A CAFE owner won a national award for her efforts to persuade customers to read more.

Alison Miller, 38, of Linthorpe, near Middlesbrough, runs Brunches Cafe, in Corporation Road, where she leaves books out for customers.

Organisers of the literacy campaign, RaW (Reading and Writing), run by the BBC, made her their Star for April.

Ms Miller said: "The cafe is near the train station. People who use the train once or twice a week come into the cafe before they catch the train. They pick up their coffee and see the books and enquire as to what they are about. When I've told them how the RaW Swaps work, they pick up the books, take them away to read and bring them back to exchange for another."

Ms Miller became involved through Middlesbrough Library.

Diane Fleet, library manager for inclusion, said: "Many RaW activities took place within our libraries. However, we also wanted to reach people who haven't visited any of our libraries before.

"So we decided to take books and reading out to people, and that's how we became involved with Brunches Cafe, who were willing to try something new."