PUPILS and staff at a Basingstoke school have celebrated the installation of a brand new book vending machine thanks to a generous donation from a parent. 

Manor Field Junior School unveiled its new reading vending machine on Friday, September 16, during a whole-school assembly.

The vending machine was filled with a variety of fiction and non-fiction books by Hayley Chapman, the school’s English lead.

The machine will be used to celebrate reading for pleasure across the school.

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Children will receive special tokens for a variety of achievements, including a weekly reading raffle and for reading 20 books. Those children who receive a token will be able to choose, and take home, a brand new book of their own to enjoy.

The very first raffle winner, Ellie Wainwright, Year 5, was thrilled to receive her book Cookie by Konnie Huq.

The pupil said: "I was excited when I was chosen because I was the first child to ever get a book from the vending machine. Now everyone can enjoy new books that they’ve never seen before. I chose my book because it looked funny and exciting to read!”

The machine itself has been purchased thanks to a kind donation from one of one of the school’s parents, Mrs Wojtasik, who raised the money through her charity work. Mrs Wojtasik was invited to attend the unveiling of the vending machine and took on the important role of cutting the ribbon. 

Year 6 pupil, Chloe Lewis, also said: "It’s much more fun as there’s a mystery – who will get the tokens and what will they look like?! I can’t wait to see. I would love an adventure book similar to Harry Potter or Percy Jackson.”

The children are now waiting to see who the next lucky winner will be to receive a book from the schools new vending machine.