Ref. 28092-03BOOKWORMS have the chance to feast on about 2,000 novels which have been donated to a sale in aid of this year's Blue Peter appeal.

The books were donated to the sale, at Lawn Junior School, by a booklover who is moving house.

Paul Houldey, who is organising the sale, was walking along Bath Road, in Old Town, when he saw a skip being filled with household items.

He said: "I asked the guy if he had anything we could have for the sale, and he just took me into a room which had three walls covered with books.

"He was selling the house, and didn't have enough room for them in his new property."

The books are all in good condition, and the collection will please fans of crime fiction.

The Blue Peter Get Together appeal aims to raise £500,000 for Mencap.

Paul, 48, of Downs View Road, Lawn, wanted to help because he works for the charity's Goddard Avenue branch.

He said: "At face value, the books are probably worth up to £15,000, because they were bought for between £5 and £60 each.

"We will sell them for around 50p each.

"I'm just really pleased the guy was so generous."

Paul, whose son Robbie, ten, attends the school, is holding the sale on December 12 from 3pm.

The money will pay for specialist workers to help children with learning disabilities take part in out of school activities, like the Cubs and Brownies.

Paul said: "I work with adults with learning difficulties and I firmly believe that if a lot of them had had better support in their youth they would be a lot more confident now.

"They would be more happy to go to pubs and clubs and lead what people regard as a normal life."

Tamash Lal