Nearly 18,000 readers have hidden their favourite books in more than 100 countries as a worldwide book-hiding campaign celebrates its seventh anniversary.

The Book Fairies, launched in March 2017, is a volunteer-led international campaign which aims to share books with other people by hiding them in public for others to find and keep.

Cordelia Oxley, the founder of the project, said: “There are people who like to read, and to share the books they’ve read. And guess what – everyone loves a nice surprise.”

Volunteers can purchase special stickers to mark the books with: “take this book, read it, and leave it for the next person to enjoy,” and a ribbon.

Actor Emma Watson, and climate-activist Greta Thunberg, are some of the famous people who have taken part.

Bex Thorp, the official Sheffield representative, said: “I love to share the joy of books which is why being a book fairy is so amazing. We spread book joy around wherever we go.”

To celebrate this year’s anniversary, Ms Thorp will be hiding books all around the city and encouraging everyone she knows to join in. 

She said: “I have a bag of second hand books all stickered and ready to be hidden in lots of places.

“Sometimes the hiding place is picked because of the book, there might be a theme or a quote that matches a hiding spot.

“As a book fairy, you are always looking for a great hiding spot and whenever I spot a good site I make a note so I can use it in the future.”