Jacob and John and friends with their longboats 16854/23VIKING myths have gripped the imagination of Malmesbury children at a library session to encourage them to keep reading over the summer holidays.

About 27 children aged between six and nine listened intently as community librarian Carolyn Kennedy talked to them them about the history of the Norse raiders and read a story about the Viking god Thor.

Afterwards the children made Viking longboats from cereal boxes.

Mrs Kennedy said: "We are trying to take part in the national reading challenge to keep children reading throughout the summer and we already have 130 signed up."

The sea is the theme of this year's reading challenge.