English literature students from York St John University gave away free books as part of World Book Night.

The event is a celebration of reading and books which sees tens of thousands of volunteers hand out specially chosen and printed books in their communities to share their love of reading.

Student Jocelyn Habberley, who helped to organise the event, said: “Our aim is to encourage people who aren’t regular readers and perhaps people who love reading, but have fallen out of the habit of doing so, to enjoy a really good book.

The books handed out at at St Deny’s Church in Walmgate, included The Ladies No1 Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

The students also donated books to York Hospital and the Arc Light Homeless Centre.