Parents prefer to read bedtime stories on electronic devices

Mums and Dads appear to prefer reading bed-time stories to their children on electronic devices rather than from books.

A survey carried out by Munch Bunch of 2,000 parents who read to their under-fives found nine in 10 dads preferred to download a story to a gadget such as an ereader, tablet or iPad rather than open a book.

More mums will use books but still nearly seven in 10 will use and electronic gadget instead.

It also appears from the survey that one in five parents has never visited their local library with their child.

Child psychologist Dr Richard Woolfson said: "There is a place for today's diverse ways of sharing stories with small children.

"The important thing is parents carve out that special one-to-one time with their little ones, interact with one another and foster a love of story time."

Meanwhile parents who think they have a literary bent can enter the Munch Time story writing competition which closes on 4 June.