Mr Gum creator Andy Stanton entertains at Big Smelly Picnic

Best-selling children”s author Andy Stanton, creator of the Mr Gum books, visited Fife to entertain hordes of youngsters at a Big Smelly Picnic.

While there, Andy launched the Space Hop national children’s summer reading challenge which is running in all of Fife’s 51 libraries throughout the summer holidays.

The challenge is open to children aged four to 12 and will keep them reading during the summer holidays when regular reading is often neglected.

Youngsters read six books to reach a lunar landing and there are lots of exciting giveaways to collect along the way.

Everyone who signs up gets a Space Hop Chart, a holographic membership card and the choice of a glow in the dark wristband, a space ceiling mobile or a multicoloured pencil.

Children can join the scheme at their local library now and everyone signing up before July 10 is eligible for a prize draw to win one of six space hoppers.

The names of all children who complete the challenge will go into a prize draw to win an author visit for their school in the new term.

Young people’s services co-ordinator Maggie Gray said the challenge would encourage summer reading.