IT'S a tale about crazy animals in noisy vehicles having fun in a traffic jam and it has captured the imagination of hundreds of tots in Southampton.

Traffic Jamboree beat off competition from a shortlist of six books for under-fives to win the coveted title of Southampton's Favourite Book to Share.

Author Sue Nicholson and illustrator Christyan Fox joined children, parents and carers at StartPoint Northam in Kent Street for a party to celebrate the book's

success.

Other attractions included storytime sessions, arts and craft activities and face-painting.

More than 2,000 youngsters and their parents and carers voted in this year's award scheme organised by Southampton City Council, twice the number that took part last year.

Lorraine Davison, family learning co-ordinator, said: "We are delighted that this year's Favourite Book to Share award scheme was such a huge success.

"We hope that by taking part many more people have discovered a love of reading as well as the many services on offer in our libraries."