THE BBC's Big Read search to find the nation's favourite books culminated in a packed week of events in Bury.

The Mayor of Bury, Councillor Wilf Davison, visited the Grundy Day Centre on Thursday (Dec 4) where 12 pupils of St John with St Mark CE Primary School entertained the elderly regulars with dramatised extracts from the youngsters' favourite Big Read books embracing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Twits and Goodnight Mr Tom.

In return, the older generation told the children about their favourite reads. The mayor then presented them with copies of the books, complete with a Big Read bookplate.

Earlier in the week, the Ramsbottom library reading group discussed their author of the month, Charles Dickens, at the Grant Arms in Ramsbottom. The pub is the former home of Dickens' friends the Grant brothers. Dickens himself stayed at the house and the Grants had a major role in Nicholas Nickleby; they were the models for philanthropic mill owners the Cheerible Brothers.

The week concluded on Friday (Dec 5) at Ainsworth, the smallest library in the country. Housebound readers were bussed in and library reminiscence worker Jean Lonsdale served a lunch and got them to talk about their favourite books, before inviting them to follow the mayor's example and cast their Big Read votes on line.

Principal librarian Diana Sorrigan said: "The books are going like hot cakes locally and figures from the Office of Public Lending Right confirm huge increases in loans of some of The Big Read books across the country."