One in four of children aged 12 and 13 do not read books in the summer holiday, a survey out today reveals.

Almost half (46%) the children aged five to 13 read only one or two books in the holiday. A third read books for less than 10 minutes a day and three-fifths read for less than half an hour a day.

The survey of parents for WH Smith suggests that children are falling behind in their reading skills during the holiday. One in three parents say they spend no time at all reading with their children during the holidays.

Sarah Lowry of the National Literacy Trust said: "It is paramount that children see reading as fun and not a chore."