A local bookshop has been named as Independent Bookshop of the Year 2019 for the London region.

Newham Bookshop, which has been trading for over 40 years, celebrated the win shortly after undertaking the biggest project their small group of staff and volunteers have ever tackled: moving the shop two doors down.

The huge affection for the shop became apparent in a fundraising campaign to support its move to new premises last year, while manager Vivian Archer received the Outstanding Contribution to Bookselling Award at the Books Are My Bag Awards.

As well as providing books for adults, Newham Bookshop also provides a specialist children’s bookshop, and works with local schools and libraries to promote the pleasure of books and reading.

One of the projects they support is Arc in the Park, a charity based in Canning Town. The club involves children and their families who are currently not active readers, and helps to develop their interest and enthusiasm for reading and books. Newham Bookshop provides advice and support to the club in the selection of titles, and supplies and delivers the books.

They also encourage children to buy their own books through their close involvement with World Book Day. They arrange for authors to go into local schools, read from their books and discuss their writing with the students.

The British Book Awards, or Nibbies, have revealed the nine winners in the regional rounds of the Independent Bookshop of the Year Award. There were 48 bookshops in the running, from new names to long-established bookshops.

Newham Bookshop, Barking Road, E13 9ER. Details: newhambooks.co.uk