'Learning to read in my 40s lifted me from despair'

Peter Lloyd says being able to chose his wife's birthday himself "means more than anything in the world"

A man has described how learning to read pulled him out of the depths of despair.

Peter Lloyd, of Southport, Merseyside, said not being able to read had taken its toll on his life.

But he began to learn with charity Read Easy, and said the volunteer who helped him was his "guardian angel".

The 46-year-old is now planning to go to college to study GCSE English.

Peter Lloyd says he wants to read all the Harry Potter books

Read Easy, which provides a volunteer-led coaching programme for adults, said up to 10% of adults in Merseyside could struggle to read.

"It [was] so embarrassing," Mr Lloyd said, adding that being unable to read made him anxious and depressed.

His wife and son persuaded him to contact Read Easy 18 months ago, and he started one-to-one reading sessions at Southport library with volunteer Alison Hollinrake.

"I've learnt things that I never thought I could learn," he said.

Peter Lloyd said he felt embarrassed and depressed about not being able to read

Ms Hollinrake said Mr Lloyd's progress had been "absolutely amazing".

"It's such a privilege to work with somebody like Peter.

"It's just totally inspiring to see how [learning to read] changes an individual's life."

She said he had set his sights high from the start.

"You can imagine how my face went on day one when Peter said, 'This is what I'd like to read', and it was the first Harry Potter book."

She said it was "quite a challenge... but bless him he has done it".

"He's achieved it and now we're part way through book three," she added.

Reading coach Alison Hollinrake said it was inspiring to see how reading can change lives

Mr Lloyd said one of the most important things about learning to read was that he could choose his wife's birthday card on his own for the first time.

"I didn't tell her.

"I gave her all the presents as normal and I said, 'I've got one more present'.

"The emotions flying around the room that day... of actually giving someone a card personally that you read and you wrote, means more than anything in the whole wide world."