KEEP your eyes peeled today and you may just spot the illusive Gruffalo.

For the creature has stepped out of the pages of the storybook and straight into Bolton to celebrate National Libraries Day and encourage more children to enjoy the fun of reading.

Cabinet member for culture Cllr John Byrne said: “The Gruffalo is a well-loved children’s book character and we’re very lucky to have him visit Bolton this weekend for National Libraries Day. He’s a formidable character and hard to miss, but there’s no need to be afraid as he’s very friendly. If anyone meets him on his travels we’d like them to take his photograph and Tweet it. Let’s give him a warm Bolton welcome.”

The Gruffalo will be in Farnworth Library today at 10am for 30 minutes before appearing at Harwood Library at 2.30pm.

On Saturday he will making children's day at Blackrod Library from 10am to 10.30am and at Bolton Central Library from 2pm and 3pm.

There will stories and mask making.

While not at the library, lucky shoppers could spot him out and about around Bolton — and those who do are being urged to tweet pictures to @Bolltonlms with the hashtag #librariesday so others can enjoy the fun and realise it is not just make believe.

Under-fives can carry on the enjoyment after the Gruffalo leaves by enjoying the Bear's Reading Adventure and collect stickers every time they visit the library.

The book was written and produced by children’s reading charity BookTrust in partnership with Igloo Books, to get more families using libraries.

The story follows BookTrust’s blue bear mascot on his reading adventure, which takes him to the park, supermarket and of course the library. However, there are ten objects missing from bear’s adventure which children are tasked with finding.

Children will earn a sticker of the missing object every time they go to the library.