ADVENTUROUS readers who use Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary s libraries can take advantage of an early delivery of Christmas goodies this year.

ADVENTUROUS readers who use Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary's libraries can take advantage of an early delivery of Christmas goodies this year.

Bookworms are encouraged to choose from selection of mystery books which have been wrapped and placed in a box in each library.

The parcels will then be stamped out as a regular library book which readers aren't allowed to open the wrapping and find out what the book is until they get home.

Library staff have been collecting together suitable new books over the last few weeks.

Readers are then asked to add a review of the book using a comments slip, whether they would have chosen the book, and what they enjoyed or didn't like about it.

More than 400 reviews were received last year, with many readers delighted to discover a new author.

Carol Ackroyd, Devon County Council's reader development officer said: "We're asking readers to be a little bit brave and try something new"

"Most of us are rather set in our ways, and stick to the same kinds of read, so this is a fun way of widening people's horizons."

The Christmas surprise book parcels will be available at both libraries from Wednesday, December 3 until Christmas Eve.