THE Oxfam shop in Fore Street, Okehampton, and Oxfam Books and Music in North Street, Tavistock, will be leaving small packs of books at various points in the two towns as part of the Oxfam Bookfest.

It will be the first nationwide book festival, running from July 4 to 18.

The packs of books will be labelled: 'You have picked up a free book from Oxfam, West Devon. This is to celebrate our participation in Oxfam's National Bookfest.

'We should like to share with you one of the good quality books given to us to sell by our generous donors in the hope that you will enjoy it and give us more lovely books, so that together we may help to overcome poverty and suffering around the world.

'Once you have enjoyed the book, please pass it on to a fellow book lover, or better still leave it, in our bag, somewhere nice and dry for someone else to pick up and read.'

Anyone who wants to comment on the project can do so by emailing [email protected]">[email protected]

Jacky Theobald, manager of the shops in Okehampton and Tavistock, said they knew that people in West Devon were 'keen and discerning readers' from the number of books they sold.

She said: 'Bookfest gives our local bookworms the opportunity to help change lives for the better through reading.'

Four volumes of short stories, called Ox-Tales, featuring 38 of the UK's top authors, will be on sale in West Devon Oxfam shops from June 27. The collection has received critical acclaim in both The Observer and The Sunday Times.

Jacky said volunteers were keen to share their enthusiasm and knowledge and volunteering for a single four-hour session could generate at least £25 for Oxfam. New volunteers would be welcomed.