YOUNG bookworms are picking up a new craze that sees them find and hide books for each other across town.

More than 600 people have joined the Children’s Books of Swindon Facebook group set up by Gemma Hedges earlier this month.

Each book is hidden in a plastic folder or bag alongside a note which reads: “Yay! You found me!

“Well done for finding me. Take me home and read. Once read please re-hide me for someone else to find. Don’t forget to post your picture on Our Facebook page.”

“I’d seen this going around elsewhere,” said Gemma, a mum of two from Pinehurst.

“I thought it would be an amazing thing to bring to Swindon.

“I set this group up on August 8 and it has grown into something I couldn’t even imagine.

“So many people have become involved and children are enjoying it so much,” she said.

Gemma added: “As a mother of two young children I know how hard it is to find something that the children enjoy and won’t cost a lot to do.

“This is the perfect mixture, it gets children out into the fresh air and gets them happy about it.

“I think it brings a sense of community for everyone involved. It’s great to see everyone coming together and children getting involved and excited about reading which is the main goal.

“I think it also teaches children about sharing. Getting them involved to hide books they no longer read for other children to enjoy and thinking of others that way,” she added.

The group also has suggestions for how and where to find the books. Barbara Sargent from Rodbourne Cheney has two children Natalia, aged six and Ben, aged four, who found three books next to Farmfood in Moredon last Thursday: The Royal Sleepover , Minnie’s Surprise, and The Little Mermaid.

She said: “When my son spotted the book he ran to get it, he was so excited! My daughter was a little bit disappointed, but a minute later she found a book as well. They told all the customers in Farmfood. It was quite funny.”

She said: “It’s great for the kids. It encourages them to go out and also to read. Many of them want to read the books straight away, in the park.”

Natalia and Ben love Stanton Park and are keen to hide new books for children there. “We thought about going to Old Town and leaving some in the parks there,” said Barbara. “They want to hide books every day!”