Children from Kent and Medway have had a royally good time as they celebrated being crowned the biggest bookworms in their districts.

Leeds Castle played host to a prize giving ceremony staged for the winners of a reading challenge organised by the KM Charity Team as part of the Buster’s Book Club initiative.

The competition required classes to notch up the biggest number of home reading minutes on the challenge date of October 21. Activities including children quietly reading to themselves or out loud to their parents or listening to audio books all counted towards their total number of reading minutes.

Each class with the top or most improved reading figures for their district was rewarded with a framed certificate for their school to display, as well as a free annual pass to Leeds Castle for every pupil.

Zoe Howard, eight, of Jays Class, East Peckham Primary School, Tonbridge, attended the presentation with her twin brother Liam.

“I like reading because it inspires you to write your own story and it whisks you away into another world where you can really imagine things,” she said.

All the champs were cheered by mascot Buster Bug and literacy supporters Kent County Council, Medway Council, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Ashford Borough Council, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Specsavers and Bel UK.

Hannah Lawrence of Leeds Castle said: “Literacy is so important to children and we wanted to reward them so hopefully they’ll go on to enjoy reading for the rest of their lives.”

Buster’s Book Club sets reading targets by age group and participating children compete in inter-class and inter-school challenges throughout the school year. Prizes include trophies, book vouchers, storyteller visits and tickets to Silver Blades ice rink.

Other organisations backing the scheme include Orbit South, and Circle Housing Russet.

Simon Dolby of the KM Charity Team which runs Buster’s Book Club said: “We’re delighted to see children getting so much enjoyment from reading. They’re having fun while developing literacy skills that will help every aspect of their schooling, as well as open doors when they enter the world of work.”

He added: “Schools only have until Thursday, December 17 to register for Buster’s Book Club and have the service in place for the New Year.”

Orders received by the deadline will pay less than half price and as an additional reward each school will receive 30 child entry vouchers to the Canterbury Tales visitor attraction.

Visit www.bustersbookclub.co.uk or call 0844 2640291.

• Click here to view photographs of the event.