Students in the North-West discovered a love of reading when they signed up to the Six Book Challenge, a national initiative that encourages adults to read for pleasure.

More than 162 Bolton College skills for life and work students completed the challenge, including John Mannion.

“When I first heard about it from my tutors, I wasn’t sure, but I decided to give it a go and have really enjoyed it,” said the 24-year-old.

“It has greatly improved my reading and writing skills, and I will definitely get involved next year.”

Marie Gilluley, principal of Bolton
College, said that some of the students who took part had never read a book “and
many have not read for a considerable number of years.”

“What’s fantastic to see is that many have now are determined to carry on,” she said.

Featured image caption: Bolton College student, Giedre Lekunaite, 24, one of the students who took up the reading challenge