An "inspirational" new library has been opened at an Egremont school to encourage children to read.

St Bridget's Catholic Primary School developed the library over the summer holidays with money collected from fundraising events during the last school year.

"Our new library is such an inspirational space; the children love it already," said headteacher Suzanne Smith.

"It is a space which now allows for individual children to read to an adult, children to read together and for small groups to work."

The library will be monitored by a group of librarians, who had to apply for the job. It has been decorated with a mural painted by one of the school's governors Mark Andrews.

Mrs Smith said: "To give children a taste of their future world of employment, we asked them to submit an application for the job.

"We have now recruited 10 librarians for this term with two librarians a day monitoring and working in the library at different times in the day."

And the head added: "This venture wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for all the families and friends who supported the fundraising events last year.

"Particular thanks must go to Andrew Livingstone, our site manager, who has worked tirelessly throughout the summer holidays. And to Mark Andrews, who used his wonderful artistic skills to produce the full wall mural."