AN organisation dedicated to empowering people to do more in the community has donated books tackling ocean plastic to schools.

Darlington Lions Club, a local branch of the Lions Club organisation, are reaching primary school children in the town with books that look at ocean plastic and related problems.

The books, written by Cornish based author and illustrator Ellie Jackson and Laura Callwood, are based on true stories about plastic in the ocean, bringing the the issue to a children's level.

The books follow three animals as they encounter plastic bags, balloons and fishing nets.

Instead of being negative, the creators hope to inspire the next generation to help tackle the problem.

This week, Club president Neil Anderson and other volunteers visited Firthmoor Primary School to give the books to Year Two.

"We were particularly impressed by the school library and its vast and varied content of reading," a spokesperson for the club said.

Speaking to the children, Mr Anderson referred to the Lions International Reading Active Programme, which encourages people of all ages to read, or to learn to read, and invited the school to visit the club's bookshop on an educational visit.

Lions are community members who volunteer their time for humanitarian causes.