A HOSPICE that cares for people in South Gloucestershire is taking part in World Book Day and encouraging others to get involved.

World Book Day will return on Thursday, March 5 and St Peter’s Hospice, Brentry, Bristol, is selling books at its 47 charity shops and running a special competition as part of the event.

Keen readers are being asked to buy books at their local St Peter’s Hospice shop with paperbacks costing  49p and hardbacks available for 99p for the whole of March.

Book donations are also welcome and money raised will go towards supporting those with life-limiting illnesses.

The charity is also running a special competition which asks supporters to name their favourite book and the reasons why for the chance to win a £50 voucher to spend in one of the charity shops.

John Flanagan, head of supporter relations at St Peter’s Hospice, said: “World Book Day is a brilliant initiative to get involved in. You can really help our patients simply by having a clear out of the book shelves and donating or by popping into a shop and picking up a bargain read.

“We have so many great titles on offer in our shops from bestselling novels and recipe books to autobiographies and children’s books; there’s something for everyone and the books are all in excellent condition.

“With books available for as little as 49p you’ll be getting a great deal and supporting a fantastic Bristol cause at the same time. It’s also a great way to recycle something you’d probably never look at again and as Bristol is the 2015 European Green Capital, we’re really hoping people get behind it.

“We sell more than 300,000 books every year in our stores and this support from customers means we can continue caring for patients and families who really need our help.

“Although World Book Day is on Thursday, March 5 we have planned a whole Book Month and our offers will be available until the end of March.”

St Peter’s Hospice is charity caring for adults with life-limiting illnesses, supporting  more than 2,670 patients each year as well as supporting family members and all services are provided free of charge.

This care costs around £18,000 a day and for around £13,000 of that, the hospice relies on gifts in wills, kind donations and funds generated by the hospice shops.

To enter the book competition pick up a form in store or enter online before March 27.

For more information visit www.stpetershospice.org