Mass book giveaway for World Book Night

Around 10,000 volunteers are due to hand out free books later as part of the fifth World Book Night.

Lynda La Plante's Prime Suspect, David Almond's Skellig, and Roddy Doyle's Dead Man Talking, are among the 20 titles being given away.

The event aims to reach "reluctant readers" by distributing 250,000 books around the UK. Organisers hope to reach the 35% of the population who do not currently read for pleasure.

As well as the 250,000 specially printed World Book Night titles, organisers as asking everyone to go out and buy their favourite book to then give to someone in their community,

David Almond, author of Skellig, described World Book Night as "great, optimistic, liberating, democratic project".

He said: "What a wonderful way to celebrate one of humankind's greatest creations. What a truly creative way to encourage people to read one book, then another, then another, to encourage people to become lifelong readers."

Lynda La Plante said it was an "honour" to have Prime Suspect included on this year's list.

"It is wonderfully heart-warming to think that a reader I have never met can be drawn into my story, be introduced to the characters I have created and experience some of the emotions I felt whilst writing the book.

"It is quite overwhelming. I hope that all of the chosen books bring huge enjoyment to readers worldwide."

The 20 titles being distributed on World Book Night are;