Camilla joins our literacy campaign

The Duchess of Cornwall today joined the Evening Standard's Get London Reading campaign - and paid for the first 10 volunteers herself.

Camilla said she was inspired to donate £5,000 after shocking figures showed the extent of the capital's literacy crisis.

As hundreds of readers also offered support, she said: "By helping children to develop a love of reading, we can help them to develop the critical skills they will need to reach their potential. I am delighted to sponsor 10 new reading volunteers as part of the Evening Standard's appeal.

"I hope that many more volunteers can be recruited. Our children deserve no less." Donations and volunteer applications have poured in since the Standard joined forces with the charity Volunteer Reading Help to help tackle illiteracy.

Almost 400 readers have responded to our call in yesterday's paper to volunteer to go into schools and help struggling pupils - and to give money to pay for their training.