LIBRARIES in Essex will benefit from almost £100,000 in a cash giveaway.

Libraries across the county have secured funding to develop a summer reading and arts programme for 2014 from the National Lottery.

The funding will see a variety of events and activities organised during the summer months.

Councillor John Jowers, cabinet member for libraries, said: “The additional funding will enable young people to express their reading through a range of art forms, learn new skills and to work with some high quality artists.”