THE message that it's good to read is being sent out across York as a series of events aimed at getting people to look at a book are organised in the city.

As part of a series of activities planned to mark the National Year Of Reading, City of York Council is encouraging people of all ages to get involved in its Big Read.

The Read Write York team has picked E Nesbit's famous novel The Railway Children as its book of choice and wants as many residents as possible to get their hands on a copy so they can read and discuss it. From the end of June, 2,000 copies of the book will be distributed to York residents through council-run libraries, York Theatre Royal and the National Railway Museum (NRM), and the local authority hopes most of these will be handed out a launch event at a mobile library in St Sampson's Square as part of the York Learning Festival.

Once all the books have been handed out, copies of The Railway Children can also be borrowed from the city's libraries. A series of Big Read-themed events are also to be held, including the chance to see a live theatre performance of The Railway Children at the NRM which will be staged in collaboration with York Theatre Royal, between July 18 and August 23, and will feature the 130-year-old, 39-tonne steam locomotive Stirling Single.

Tickets for the show cost £15, with family tickets priced at £40 and concessions also available. For more information and to book, phone the Theatre Royal box office on 01904 623568 or log on to www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

Emma Farley, the NRM's marketing and PR manager, said: "We are very proud to be supporting the Big Read event and hope it will encourage thousands of young people across the city to enjoy The Railway Children and then see it brought to life on the stage this summer.

To find out more about how you can get involved in the Big Read, visit www.york.gov.uk