A COMMUNITY bus is being turned in to a library to encourage young people in Darlington to read more.

Darlington's Blitz Bus was donated by the police to the borough council's Community Education Service last year, to help provide services to youngsters who would not normally use youth clubs or advisory agencies.

The bus travels around the borough offering a place for young people to meet, talk and find out about a variety of subjects.

From next month, the Blitz Bus will take on a new role as a mobile library for the younger generation.

The bus's staff will be working with the council's Lifelong Learning team and Darlington Library Service to promote reading for youngsters.

Eleanor Lister, the council's cabinet member for education, said: "This project has tremendous potential. Its aim is to show young people that reading can be exciting and interesting.

"We want to encourage parents of the very young to share the experience of reading with their children, and we want to try to reintroduce teenagers to the benefits of reading."

As part of its role as a library, the bus will be calling at Hurworth every Tuesday, from 8pm to 9pm, where the emphasis will be on attracting young adults to the joy of graphic novels and books on tape.

Once a month, the bus will also call at Harewood House, Darlington, with baby books and books for older children.

It will be visiting Firthmoor Primary School's reception class every fortnight and Firthmoor Playgroup once a month.

Young people and their parents who visit the bus will be able to borrow books and get advice from library staff.

The bright purple Blitz Bus has had a successful first year and has won a number of awards, including an excellence award for career guidance for young people.

On board the bus there is a computer, television and videocassette player, refreshments, basic sports equipment, a lap-top computer and a fax machine.

Workers on the bus are also available to talk to young people and give them advice.

Information is available on a wide range of subjects, including advice on sex and drugs.