Schools across Barrow have joined forces to raise funds for a portable library within a children's ward of a Furness hospital.

Brisbane Park Infant School, Cambridge Primary Street, Yarlside Nursery and Primary School, Newbarns Primary School and Roose Community Primary School have all taken part in the Team Evie reading challenge which raised over £3000 for a portable library in Furness General Hospital's (FGH) children's ward.

Each pupil was handed a Team Evie sponsor card and asked to set themselves an appropriate reading challenge to complete in a week.

Using the money raised from the challenges, Team Evie has provided a portable library trolley for the children’s wards in the FGH.

The charity was set up by Greg Johnson in memory of his six-month-old daughter who passed away in 2015.

Following this, Mr Johnson established a charity aimed to help sick children and their families who face similar circumstances and challenges to those faced by Evie.

Deputy headteacher of Roose Primary, Jenny Redhead, heard about the charity and felt inspired to get involved.

She said: "When I heard Greg speak at an English meeting I wanted to get involved as Greg said he had not managed to work with the FGH yet.

"We organised a sponsored read event and all children in Roose School and Nursery asked for sponsors for the number of times they read at home or shared a book in our book week.

"We raised about £1000 and overall the Barrow Schools raised over £3000.

"We are really pleased to have supported this worthwhile charity whilst developing our learning and raising the profile of reading throughout school."

Greg Johnson was 'absolutely thrilled' when he heard of the community support.

He said: "We were absolutely thrilled to get such amazing support in Barrow, thanks to Jenny, as we had hoped for a while to start supporting the FGH.

"The children, families and staff at all five schools did an amazing job and we are so appreciative of their amazing support.

"We can’t wait to deliver the portable library to the Children’s Ward next month. It will make such a huge difference to the children and their families."