A primary school in Birkenhead will have a new library space built in April as part of children's laureate flagship programme.

Woodchurch C of E Primary School has been selected as one of six schools nationwide by children’s author, Cressida Cowell to receive one of her ‘Life Changing Libraries’.

Over the year, six primary schools across England have been chosen with the aim of developing a reading for pleasure culture with support from Cowell and charity, BookTrust.

In an article published on the BBC news website, Cowell said: “Pre-pandemic, literacy was already a huge problem with disadvantaged children being 11 months behind at school.

"Post-pandemic, that figure is set to get worse.

"How can a child become a reader for pleasure if their parents or carers cannot afford books, and their primary school has no library, or that library is woefully insufficient?"

The building work is set to begin in April and the library spaces will officially open in June this year.

Training will be offered to school staff and books and other resources will be given towards the project.

The project will monitor the impact on pupils' engagement, attitudes and reading behaviour across a 12-month period which will be collected for research.