A SPECIAL guest joined the flock of volunteers at ARCh children's reading charity on a recent volunteer training day.

The Bicester-based charity, which goes into schools across Oxfordshire to help pupils learn to read, welcomed a new-born lamb to its training course with volunteer and Hambleden smallholding owner Bridget Fraser.

Ms Fraser explained how the animal required round-the-clock care in its first days of life and so needed to join her for the training.

ARCh development manager Elaine Adams said: "Bridget told us that the lamb had to be fed by bottle but she didn’t want to miss the training course so, as the nursery rhyme says, the lamb was sure to come too.

"We were happy to accommodate their needs and Bridget illustrates what a diverse group of people we bring together to train as ARCh reading volunteers.

"Among her interests and occupations alone she lists sheep keeping, writing and filmmaking while other new recruits include a retired judge, a former headteacher, retired GP and several young parents."

At present ARCh has 260 volunteers who visit more than 100 Oxfordshire primary schools and help about 700 children with reading every week.

The charity is looking for more volunteers to help extend its reach to more schools across the county and the next two-day training course will be held on June 7 and 8.

For more details in joining the training course to become an ARCh reading helper go online to archoxfordshire.org.uk or call 01869 320 380