Youngsters taking part in Buster’s Book Club have been rewarded for their dedication to reading.

Class U7 from Whitstable Junior School and Chaffinch Class from The Oaks Primary Academy, Maidstone were crowned district champs for having the most pupils achieving or exceeding their reading targets on the contest date of February 11.

The reading competition was open to all schools signed up to Buster’s Book Club - the home reading initiative created by the charity department at the KM Group – and the winners were invited to a prize giving ceremony at Leeds Castle.

Elise Delooze, 10, and Arthur Clarke, 11, of Whitstable attended on behalf of Class U7, and Misha Garbur, 11, and Hazal Dogan, 10, from Maidstone represented Chaffinch Class. They were presented with free tickets to the castle for the winning classes and certificates for their schools to display.

Buster Bug made a special appearance to congratulate the children as did key partners of the scheme Kent County Council, Medway Council, Specsavers, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Countrystyle Recycling, and Mini Babybel.

Debbie Martin, project officer from Buster’s Book Club, said: “I’m thrilled for the children. They’re having great fun taking part in the scheme and developing a lifelong love of reading.”

Buster’s Book Club, which is also backed by The Ernest Cook Trust and Leeds Castle, sets children an individual home reading target based on age group. Schools are provided with fun wall charts, badges and resources to reward star readers as well as a series of reading challenge days.

Visit www.bustersbookclub.co.uk for more information.