Books can transport you to different worlds, according to one 16-year-old who believes in reading so much he is starting his own campaign and book club.

Diranavan Sukumaran, of Seven Kings, decided to promote reading after attending the course.

He said: “Reading can take you to different places and escape. It’s an opportunity to learn. It’s something that’s important to me as my brother used to tell me to read and I feel that young people were not exposed to it as much.”

He added: “The last book I read was The Kite Runner which is about Afghanistan.

“Then I started reading about Afghanistan in the newspaper and it’s helped me learn about different aspects of the world.”

He will be starting the group at his school, Mayfield School, Pedley Road, Goodmayes.