Children at 200 primary schools will be competing this week to win a visit from a top panto performer.

The children’s challenge is the first of a series of inter-school competitions to improve literacy as part of KM’s Year of Reading campaign.

Ben Roddy, who plays the panto dame in the Marlowe Theatre’s production of Dick Whittington this winter, will read a story to a school that has helped encourage children to either walk to school or read the most in the first of the autumn challenges staged by the KM Charity Team.

51,000 children use either the charity’s award-winning Super Wow! scheme to encourage green travel to school or Buster’s Book Club home reading challenge.

Mr Roddy will visit the winning school later in October to read a story of the school’s choice.

Simon Dolby from the KM Charity Team said: “What a fantastic way to kick start the first in our series of inter-school challenges to boost reading and green travel to school. We are so grateful to Ben Roddy to support our work in schools this academic year.”

Mr Roddy said: “I’m delighted to be involved in KM’s Year of Reading Campaign. Reading together as a family helps to create a stronger bond between a parent and child and shows the child the importance and value of reading. You make wonderful memories when you spend time together with your children in this way and that is what I’m hoping comes out this initiative – many more families regularly enjoying reading together.”

KM Charity Team’s educational work is supported by Mini Baby Bel, Specsavers, 3Rs teacher recruitment, Countrystyle Rcycling, Volker Highways, Gallagher Aggregates, Eurostar, Whitefriars, Kent County Council, Medway Council, London Borough of Bexley, Orbit, Jelf and Golding Homes.

To find out more visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk