Riot-hit library 'has risen like a phoenix'

Dame Rachel, seen here with children's author Frank Cottrell-Boyce, said Liverpool children touched her heart

The Children's Commissioner has said rebuilding a library which was torched in the summer riots of 2024 illustrates the importance of youngsters having access to facilities beyond the classroom.

Dame Rachel de Souza, visited Spellow Library in Liverpool, where she met children's laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce and pupils from a local primary school.

Earlier this month, Dame Rachel published a report which highlighted teachers' concerns about the support available to pupils outside of school.

Spellow Library, in Walton, Liverpool, was forced to close when it was set alight on 3 August amid unrest which swept across the country after the Southport attack.

A huge community effort to repair the damage saw £250,000 raised and books donated from Queen Camilla and a host of celebrities.

Dame Rachel said she visited Spellow last year when "it was like a Phoenix from the ashes".

She added: "But commitment is about coming back time and time again.

"The kids at the launch last year really moved my heart and I felt committed to come back again.

"It's an amazing place and these are amazing children."