THE TG Jones Ross-on-Wye store will be ging away 50,000 exclusive issues of the iconic Beano comic for free in celebration of National Year of Reading.

The giveaway will take place from this Thursday, July 16 for one week, with customers and Beano fans being able to access a copy at the Market Place store.

TG Jones has partnered with beloved children’s comic Beano to launch an exclusive issue of Britain's longest-running comic has a ‘Summer of Sports’ theme and will feature exciting new adventures from Dennis the Menace and his dog Gnasher, guest appearances from famous sporting faces, as well as several vouchers for readers to enjoy.

In a special four-page story, Dennis and Gnasher's school Sports Day is transformed into a hilarious Summer of Sport spectacular, where they meet National Year of Reading Team Go All In captains including Joe Wicks, Tim Henman, Georgia Stanway and Jodie Cunningham, with legendary commentator John Murray joining the action.

The issue is packed with Beano humour and celebrates how reading can help kids discover even more about the sports and heroes they love.

Whilst the Dandy ceased print publication in December 2012, the iconic weekly comic The Beano is still printed and published by DC Thomson, continuing a run that started in 1938.

The giveaway in partnership with Beano has been formed to support the National Year of Reading 2026, the biggest campaign in a generation designed to inspire everyone to discover a passion for reading.

A Department for Education initiative supported by the National Literacy Trust, the National Year of Reading is delivered with the support of major sponsors and partners.

Mike Stirling, Beano director of mischief, said: “Comics make reading fun and that's a superpower worth celebrating. We're thrilled to be supporting the National Year of Reading to help introduce as many children as we can to the joy of picking up a Beano."