CHILDREN in Oxfordshire have been invited to join the Silly Squad.

The gang of cartoon animals are the mascots for this year's Summer Reading Challenge in the county.

Youngsters are challenged to read as much as they can, record it online, and then pick up virtual prizes as they progress.

All children aged four to 11 are invited to sign up to the free challenge run by Oxfordshire Libraries, and they can read any books they like.

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If they are already a member of Oxfordshire Libraries, or if they sign up online for free at oxfordshire.gov.uk/libraries, they can download e-books and audio books for free.

Alternatively they can just read books they have at home.

They can be comics, jokes books, stories and factual information books.

As they track their reading, children collect virtual badges that will unlock 'exciting downloadable activities' and videos from the Silly Squad website – sillysquad.org.uk