A FUN-filled afternoon of reading and activities kept excited children entertained as optician staff made a bid to boost literacy.

Colleagues from Boots Opticians, based in Lion Walk shopping centre in Colchester, held their Tales and Teapots event as part of a partnership with the National Literacy Trust.

The partnership highlights the link between eye health and literacy.

It also aims to improve the life chances of the most disadvantaged children in the country by boosting their literacy levels.

Staff from the opticians dressed as popular children’s characters as part of the event and told stories to young children and toddlers.

They also arranged a number of activities to keep them entertained.

The event was held at Colchester Library in Trinity Street, Colchester.

Geraint Jones, who is the practice manager at Boots Opticians, said: “Reading books can be a great way of getting children learning in a fun way and what better place to do that than at the library. It was a really fun day and there were lots of happy, smiling kids.”