MIDDLEWICH Library was recognised by Cheshire East for its impressive participation in the Mythical Maze summer reading challenge.

The reading challenge, backed by Middlewich Library, set a new record for the number of children taking part for the second year running.

The year’s theme of Mythical Maze captured imaginations and sparked a huge range of spin-off activities for children including storytelling, crafts, parachute games and animal handling.

Cheshire East libraries, including Middlewich Library, got more volunteers, more children attending events and more schools actively involved than any other year.

Of those children who started the challenge, 62 per cent completed it, which is three per cent more than in 2013.

Middlewich Library was acknowledged by Cheshire East council as the library with the biggest increase in participation this year, with an increase 41 per cent in starters and 52 per cent in children who completed the challenge.

Councillor David Brown, Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council and Cabinet member in charge of libraries, said: “We were really pleased to support the national summer reading challenge in our libraries and delighted at the record success of this year’s scheme.

“It is really encouraging to see that each year it gets more and more popular with children and parents.”