Grimsby's only independent bookstore has officially set up shop on Freeman Street Market - with the ultimate goal of instilling a love of reading in local children after noticing a "sad" decline in the activity. After successfully running The Rabbit Hole in Brigg for a number of years, husband and wife duo Nick and Mel Webb decided to open up the second branch of the shop in the heart of Grimsby . Stocking an array of titles by local authors that can't be found anywhere else, as well as hundreds of children's books to suit all ages and preferences, the colourful and quirky shop is a welcome addition to the East Marsh hub. READ MORE: Families in northern Lincolnshire to receive increased Child Benefit payments from this week East Marsh community hub's plea for help as cost of living funding that feeds families stops Nick and Mel hope to help local families access books in the midst of the cost of living crisis, with children's activities, a reading and colouring-in area and a special secondhand section stocking books at just £2 each. Speaking to Grimsby Live, Nick said: "Freeman Street Market is somewhere we've both always wanted to be. We're both in inclusive education and we've worked in schools in this area. We hope to give access to books that you won't find elsewhere, because Grimsby hasn't got an independent bookshop. We want to support any locally based authors, and show people in Grimsby what there is beyond what they see in the supermarket. The space is colourful and inviting (Image: Grimsby Live) "We feel we're in a crucial spot in this town. They can come in, have a look, see books they won't see anywhere else, and enjoy our activities." Nick said through their bookshops and the work they do with local schools, his and wife Mel's main goal is to showcase the importance of reading when it comes to child development and education - and to encourage parents to read, too. "The number of times you hear parents saying to children, 'Why do you want to go in there? We don't need books', but the kids want to go in. This morning, we've had four kids come in on their own. It's quite sad, but the children aren't to blame. It's adults who need to model it," he said. "I'm a big believer in kinesthetic learning. If you read something on a screen, it doesn't stay in, but with a book, it's like muscle memory, so it's all helping to learn and it's physically relaxing. I don't think nowadays we relax with phones, because in the back of your head, you're thinking about work, or wanting to look at
Social Media or play a game. But if you've got a book, you just want to be left in peace and quiet. Freeman Street Market, Grimsby (Image: GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford) "People are being bombarded with technology left, right and centre, but it must be worse for the kids than adults. We find it hard to put our phones down because we're scared of what we're missing." The Rabbit Hole also stocks a selection of graphic novels for children - a genre which Nick feels is coming back into the mainstream. "When I was a kid, every week you would wait for a comic to come out, kids would queue," he said. "But then they'd gone for a while, but kids at the moment are loving graphic novels. I talk to a lot of teachers and I really do think it's because it gives them something they haven't got anywhere else. You can only watch so much TV." Nick and Mel are also keen to work with local schools and authors to arrange activities for children geared around reading. Last week, the shop welcomed 60 pupils from Strand Primary Academy for a special event with local children's author, James Nichol. To like The Rabbit Hole on
Facebook and keep up-to-date with events taking place there, click here . The shop is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 3pm.