RAIL travellers in York were prescribed reading for pleasure by a literary doctor this week.

Commuters passing through the city on Monday were encouraged to take five minutes out from their busy day today to consult with Durham Book Festival’s mobile book doctor, Caroline Beck, about the health of their reading.

The event, sponsored by East Coast, included a consulting room, complete with comfy sofa, rugs, lamps, an anatomy skeleton, a chaise longue and, most importantly, well-stocked bookshelves.

Passers-by on the station concourse got the opportunity to reveal their reading habits and concerns to the doctor who then diagnosed problems and prescribed appropriate books.

Each person who had a free consultation with the doctor left with a personalised reading prescription, and a free book to help broaden their reading horizons.

Karen Boswell, East Coast managing director, said: “Reading is one of the most popular leisure activities for our passengers when on board our trains or at our stations, and what better way to encourage people to pick up a book and read more than by having the book doctor on hand to answer questions and make recommendations for books to read in the future.”