A massive campaign has been launched to improve the reading habits of thousands of the city's children.

The ambitious Whatever It Takes project is the largest drive to improve literacy standards Leicester has ever seen.

It involves schools, authors, libraries, businesses and families across the city helping youngsters just like Sophie Wooding, 11, who used to hate reading and now loves it.

She said: "Reading is so important for developing social skills and for your career.

"I didn't like reading before but now my school has shown me books I really enjoy and persuades me to read by holding book clubs. Now, I even read fairytales to my little sister."

Sophie's school, Parks Primary, in New Parks, is one of scores across the city which are taking a share of the £1m Whatever It Takes fund.

Underpinning the project is a major online survey of primary school children, which has already shown a mixed picture of reading across the city.

More than 4,000 children across the city have logged on to answer questions about their reading.

Results, so far, show that up to one in 10 children do not like reading and roughly the same say they hardly ever pick up a book at home. More positively, 52% say they love reading.

Not only will the survey show schools how effective the campaign is when they ask children in the future, it will also show individual schools and neighbourhoods about reading habits among their children.

The book club idea at Parks Primary is to encourage children to talk about stories they have read and recommend them to other children.

Literacy consultant Jo Puttick, who works at the school said it was vital parents helped. She said: "Children having stories read to them is hugely important for their development and love of reading.

"They should be read to between the ages of nought and 11 at least.

"At this school, we are trying an approach like an adult's book club, so children get to enjoy reading by recommending books to friends."

Parks pupil Perry Gratton, 10, said: "I was read to by my parents all the time and I think it's important. But children have to read something they're interest in, or they get bored.

"Boys, for example, like Harry Potter and mythology."

"And girls like cute animals and fairies," added classmate Tiyahna Bond, 11.

Liam Walton, 11, said: "Reading has got to be fun."

The idea behind the campaign is to raise the profile of reading and to demonstrate how vital it is for improving achievement in school and later in life.

The name of the campaign comes from the pledge made by Leicester City Council and schools: "We will do whatever it takes to get every child in Leicester reading."

Read more about the campaign