A nine-day-old baby has become the youngest person to enrol for the Islington Reads literacy campaign, signing up along with hundreds of schoolchildren.

Since the campaign’s launch last year, more than 200 students from across the borough’s secondary schools have hosted and taken part in drama performances, poetry recitals and library visits.

And now newly-born Agustin Arias has been getting in on the act, collecting her library card with proud new parents Laura and Leandro.

The campaign, launched by Islington Council, is aimed at reducing inequality and offering residents of all ages opportunities through reading.

The initiative has also seen students paired up with reading buddies and mentors and become members of book clubs and book swaps.

Islington Council’s executive member for children and families, Cllr Joe Caluori, said: “It’s so important that children and young people develop good literacy levels – both in terms of academic achievement, but also to improve their chances of finding employment.

“Reading should be accessible to everyone, no matter what age you are or where you live. And it doesn’t need to cost any money – joining a library and borrowing books or eBooks is free.”