CHILDREN at X11 Apostles RC School in Leigh are having bags of fun.

The Leigh Education Action Zone backed StoryBags project was launched by assistant headteacher Sheenagh Newton, the school's literacy co-ordinator and Y2 teacher.

She held two meetings with parents to explain the programme and to hand out the first of 19 bags funded by the EAZ -- with extra bags purchased by the school.

Each StoryBag contains a fiction and non-fiction book, a story tape with personal stereo player, a toy, prop or puppet and a parent guide.

The scheme aims to raise Y2 pupils' reading standards, to help increase parental involvement in reading and to stimulate and motivate children.

Sheenagh Newton said: "We want children to want to pick up a book and read, to become eager and enthusiastic about reading. We want them not just to read but to interpret books, to think deeper about the storyline."