LIBRARIES across Cheshire West will once again offer fancy dress swaps in good time for World Book Day in March, helping to save money and the environment.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet Member for a Fairer Future, Councillor Lisa Denson said: “Seeing primary schoolchildren in book-related fancy dress costumes every World Book Day has become a common sight in March but, with ever-mounting financial and environmental pressures limiting new purchases makes more sense than ever.

“Many of our libraries will be accepting donations of fancy dress in February and before World Book Day itself.  These will then be made available as soon as possible for anyone who would like a costume. What better way to share the fun, so you can play your part to save money and help with the climate emergency.”

All donated clothes must be clean, in good condition and suitable for primary school-aged children. Any items which are not claimed by World Book Day will be either donated to charity, kept for library use or sent for recycling.

Participating libraries are: Barnton, Blacon, Frodsham, Hope Farm, Lache, Little Sutton, Neston, Northwich, Sandiway, Winsford and Wharton.

For World Book Day itself, libraries will be exchanging the £1 book tokens that every school child will receive, for the special World Book Day books on Saturday, March 9 from opening time until 12.30pm. Opening hours may vary slightly between branches.

Cheshire group ‘The Pop Up Patchers’ will be Upton Library on Saturday, February 24 from 10am to 12pm to show how any other World Book Day costumes, and other clothes, that need small repairs, can be saved.

It’s free to join and use a library.  In addition to printed books, there is free access to online computers and study space. Membership allows access to the popular BorrowBox app which provides thousands of eBooks and eAudiobooks for free. As well as this, the Libby app provides free access to hundreds of magazines online.

To find out more about World Book Day, or other regular events at your local library see the Council’s website.