Volunteers who give up their Saturday mornings to tell stories to children were praised at an end-of-term celebration.

About 20 people – including Culture Minister Dale Butler – attended a ceremony at Bermuda College as the Fun Time Reading initiative wound down for the summer hiatus.

Coordinator Shelley Riley said the popular event attracted youngsters from the age of two upwards to the college for storytelling, crafts and fun.

"Volunteer readers choose books of interest, some with themes, and appear to enjoy the interaction as much as the children, some recalling the activity as a sorely missed throwback to the often neglected pastime," she said.

Mr. Butler is a regular reader and often treats his young listeners to free, autographed copies of his books.

He was the featured reader at the last Fun Time session before the summer break.