BESTSELLING author James Patterson has chosen a Culcheth bookshop for a grant for its work in the community encouraging children to read.

Family run store Forget Me Not in Common Lane has been given a share of £250,000 pledged to independent bookshops across the UK.

So far more than £130,000 has been awarded to 73 shops as part of deal between James Patterson and the Booksellers' Association.

Managers Naomi Simpson and Victoria Simpson-Forrest were recognised for offering free story time and craft sessions for under 5s and a junior book club for eight to 12-year-olds.

Victoria said: “We are absolutely thrilled that the work we do in our community has been recognised in this way.

"Our reading initiatives have grown in popularity over the last 18 months and this grant will help us to reach out to even more families.

"James Patterson has asked the money is spent on a story teller's chair and craft materials for our story time and junior book club.

“Like James, we agree that far too many children are in danger of living their lives without books.

"When we bought the business seven years ago books accounted for a very small proportion of the business. It was our passion for books that brought this renewed focus to the business.”