A novel treasure hunt has launched on Teignmouth seafront to encourage children to read.

Children’s bookseller Maria Taylor has hidden 50 children’s books between Teignmouth’s back beach and the Teignmouth letters to encourage youngsters to enjoy the fresh air and reading.

Once children have read the book they have found they are encouraged to either keep it, pass it to a friend, or re-hide it.

Maria is also encouraging those who find books to share a photo on her Facebook group. ‘There’s no need to include children or their faces in the images,’ she clarified.

The treasure hunt has been a community effort with local individuals and business sponsoring books.

Maria, who runs Mamma Taylor’s Reading Corner, said she came up with the idea ‘to get more kids reading and enjoying books’.