Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership (DGHP) have been supporting a local primary school’s bid to get their pupils reading.

Gretna Primary School have been taking part in a 16-week campaign – called “Get Gretna Reading” - aimed at raising awareness of the benefits of reading and staff from DGHP went along to lend support.

The community reading project promotes the positive aspects of reading to pupils of all age and local authors, along with representatives from local businesses and communities, have been supporting the project. Those taking part are being challenged to read for 20 minutes, three times a week, during the 16-week programme.

Joanne Quigley, executive support manager at DGHP, went along to share with the pupils why reading was so important to her.

She said: “It was a great opportunity to share with the pupils why I feel reading is so important – and to let them know what the benefits have been for me over the years. All of the pupils were really enthusiastic about reading, which was really great to see.”