AN innovative project in Warrington, which aims to bring literature to homeless people, is being honoured with a prestigious award.

The Your Choice Books scheme makes books available to homeless people who use the YMCA, on Winmarleigh Street.

It has won the Daphne Clark Award for Practitioners for excellence in practitioner and information research, and judges called it an 'innovative and interesting piece of work'.

Wendy Molyneux, the service development officer who pioneered the project, said: "I'm thrilled that I've won this award. I'm really surprised and still can't believe it!"

She added: "It seemed unfair that people with no fixed abode were prevented from experiencing the joy of books and we wanted to address the issue."

Martin Gaw, library, museums and archives services manager, said: "I'm extremely pleased for Wendy. Knowing the amount of hard work and research she has put into the project, I can honestly say that the award has gone to the right person."

Fifty titles were made available to the YMCA users with changes made every three weeks after consultations with the readers.

The scheme has raised awareness of library services and the YMCA now has its own library.

Judges were unanimous that Your Choice Books was a clear winner and said the wider public library community, and current Government agenda, could learn from it.

Wendy will receive the award at the Library and Information Research Group's AGM on May 19.