A PRIMARY school unveiled their new library with the help of storyteller and a former Emmerdale actress to mark World Book Day.

Joseph Locke Primary, based on Shaw Street, closed their library after Christmas so it could undergo a two-month-long refurbishment.

Judith Brock, co-headteacher, said that the school is currently pushing for pupils to read more and the revitalised provision was ‘vital’.

“We wanted to bring the library back to life and offer a wider variety of books for each year group,” said Judith,

“We funded the refurbishment ourselves and invested heavily in books for each year. In the library we’ve created different shelves for each year group.

“Each class is time tabled at least 30 minutes per week in the library and we will also be allowing pupils to be come library monitors so children can go there on their lunch break.

“We chose World Book Day on Thursday to open the library as we believed it was a fitting occasion to unveil the new space for the children.”

Ursula Holden-Gill, who played Alice Dingle in the ITV soap, has become a storyteller since and was joined by several pupils who witnessed her cutting the ribbon.

Ursula said: “It was special to come and open the new library. I hope to see all the pupils use it not just to read books for class but to read so many books their head is full of different stories.”