ONGOING cuts to Surrey library services meant that children taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge did not receive medals this year.

The annual nationwide hallenge for children aged from four to 11, aims to keep them reading through the school summer holiday by offering those who have signed up, small rewards and incentives.

Young readers who complete the challenge by reading six books are awarded a special medal and certificate.

Haslemere resident Marion Whitby said: “I think it is a real shame that Surrey libraries have decided not to reward children taking part in this year’s book challenge with a medal.

“In previous years they have received a medal in a school assembly, it is a very much looked forward to event and a great incentive to keep them reading over the summer holiday.

“Kent, Sussex and Hampshire are all still offering the medals according to their websites. So why not Surrey?”.

Responding, a Surrey County Council spokesman said: “Due to huge budget pressures and an unprecedented demand for services, in particular adult social care, we decided to focus our resources on offering incentives along the way rather than a medal should a child read six books.

“We are delighted that each year the number of children taking part increase but this brings with it more demand and further pressure on our budget.”

Surrey’s Summer Reading Challenge children were still rewarded along the way this year, with two postcards and a door hangar for reading two books, two more postcards and a game for reading four books and a final two cards and a certificate for reading six books.

Last year more than 17,000 Surrey children took part in the challenge which is organised by local libraries and an army of volunteers.

The challenge is organised locally by Haslemere library and town county councillor Nikki Barton urged residents to increase their support in the face of further cuts threatened to local services.

“Haslemere library is a vital community asset that offers so much more than books, talking books, newspapers and reference books,” she said.

“The whole library building now offers Wifi to all visitors, as well as number of computers that are available to all.

“In the face of severe financial cuts to Surrey County Council’s budget, the library service is having to adapt and its staff are having to work harder than ever so that it can continue to offer all these valuable services, as well as encouraging our children

to visit the library to stimulate a love of reading that brings so many benefits.

“I would encourage everyone to use and support Haslemere’s excellent library, so that we can justify its funding going forward in the face of mounting budgetary pressures on the county.

“Currently the county is facing a £27 million deficit in its adult social care budget alone, within two years the county will receive no funding at all from central government, while the costs of providing care for the elderly and school places continues to grow.”