MORE than 200 children at a Lowestoft school have been given free Bibles to help them learn about the Old and New Testaments.

The children's Bibles were handed out to the year one to five pupils at Gunton Community Primary School by the Rev Trevor Reiss, of Gunton St Peter's church, and church members Chris and Cathie Songer.

The illustrated Bibles, which have a colourful cover, were given for free after they were provided by the Bibles for Children charity with support from the Gunton church.

It is the first time that a school in Waveney has been given Bibles by the charity, which was set up in 1997 to promote the understanding of Christianity.

The Bibles were presented to 220 children at an assembly last Thursday and the church representatives also gave Bible readings and toured the school's classrooms.

The visit was arranged after Mr Songer heard from a friend about a school in St Albans which had been given Bibles. He thought it would be a good idea to help provide the free books to help with the pupils' religious studies and their curriculum

After handing out the Bibles, Mr Songer said: 'I thought the children appreciated getting the Bibles and we all thoroughly enjoyed going to the school.'

Mr Songer said he now planned to arrange visits to more school assemblies and hoped to hand out Bibles to all year one pupils at the school in future years.

The only other school in Suffolk to have received the free books from Bibles for Children was a school in Ipswich, he added.

Under the arrangement between the charity and the school, every pupil is given a Bible, but they do not have to accept it or keep it.

? Anyone who wants to find out about the Bibles for Children organisation can call Mr Songer on 01502 566641.