A TOTAL of 24 local shops are supporting a book trail around the Ross-on-Wye in support of the National Year of Reading 2026 during the month of March.

The shops will be show off book-themed, decorated windows throughout the whole of the month for children to enjoy.

Once children have found all 24 book characters, they will return their findings to the staff at Ross library, who will enter each participant into a draw to win a plush hedgehog.

The book trial will culminate in a children’s book fayre being held at Ross library on April 2 and being Ross, the theme of the competition is, of course, hedgehogs.

There will be 10 local authors attending the fayre from 10am until 3pm, including organiser Charlotte Taylor. The book fayre will also be running free storytelling sessions throughout.

The book fayre is being run as a non-profit event, with any funding left over going to a charity of the authors' choice

Charlotte said: “We are also hoping that the fact we have entered the National Year of Reading will help to encourage the local community even more to see that reading is a pleasure.

“Rossians, in the past, have always proven to be fond of books, so we are looking forward to this being very well-received once people hear about it.

“We all hope that this is the first year of many Little Hedgehogs Book Fayres to come.”

There is also a children's literary competition with four age categories - up to age of four, five- to seven-year-olds, eight- to 11-year-olds and those aged over 12, where children can enter a story, a poem, a picture or a comic strip.

The winner of each category will win a £10 book voucher, a certificate and a plush hedgehog.

More details of this and the competition templates can be found on the website: wild-wood-press.com/events.