TEESSIDE youngsters are to have lessons from their peers in a scheme launched by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

Reception class children, from South Bank Community Primary School, will be taught by students from Gillbrook College under the initiative, being pioneered by the council's library service.

The year 11s are completing a health and social care class, in whilch they have to interact with young children, reading and listening with them, as part of the curriculum.

The pupils have visited South Bank Library, where they have been given lessons in how to read stories to children using books, props and songs.

Community librarian Jan Abel said: "As it's National Share a Story Month, we decided that using young adults to read to the younger generation of children would be a great idea."

Carolyn McLoughlin, from Gillbrook College, said: "We have worked very closely with the library in the past, and chose this as it is particularly useful to the health and social care course.

"Our Youth Opportunities group received £4,500 of funding to promote reading and literacy in the area. As such, some year eight and ten children are going to be filming the session as part of a DVD they are compiling to show why reading is important."

The session gets underway at 10am on Monday.