POSTMAN Pat’s creator has delivered exactly the right message over fines for children’s books when they are returned to the library late.

John Cunliffe said introducing late fines of up to £2.50 per book is a retrograde step when it comes to encouraging our children to read.

Our councils are in an impossible position when it comes to funding right now.

They are having to make savings everywhere, even where that causes big problems.

Children’s services have been hit already. The adult social care bill goes up and is crucial. We need to look after vulnerable people.

The problem with charging library fees is that it goes further than making cuts, it is a way of handing out fines.

Like parking fines and other such punishments.

Do we really want to go down that road?

Yes people should be able to stay on top of their books and renew them in time. It really is not that difficult.

But when you have small children sometimes the easy things slip your mind and do not always become the biggest priority.

We want our youngsters to read as it reall is so very good for them.

Even those books that the very young enjoy. The pop-up books, the touch and feel books with different materials.

Crucially it encourages interaction with parents. It is a much more special time than simply watching television.

In an age when more and more youngsters spend more and more time glued to a screen we must do all we can. We want our youngsters from all backgrounds to go to school having had plenty of experience with books.