Charity to give away 1,000 books in Bradford

A charity is set to give away 1,000 books as part of a "mass read-in" event in Bradford.

The Reading Agency is offering the books to mark World Book Night on Wednesday and inviting people to Waterstones to read for an hour at 11:30 BST.

The books are billed as "quick reads", with the charity encouraging more people to read on lunch breaks rather than using mobile phones.

Karen Napier, the charity's chief executive officer, said: "Reading can provide a mindful, focused and meaningful outlet.

"In the fast paced, digital world we live in, we often have to sift through lots of noise and distractions which can negatively impact on our mental health and wellbeing."

Now in its 19th year, the "quick reads" initiative has collaborated with more than 30 publishers and distributed five million books, the charity said.

Bradford 2025 is supporting the scheme, with creative director Shanaz Gulzar praising the initiative.

"Reading should be accessible to everyone, whether English is a second language, literacy is a challenge, or life has simply made it difficult to maintain the habit," she said.

"The written word is the foundation of so much of our culture and ensuring more people can engage with it will have a far-reaching impact."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.