AN INDEPENDENT book shop celebrated its tenth anniversary with a Mad Hatter’s tea party.

Books 2 Love of Pyle Street, Newport, embraced the theme, with manager Margaret Norris portraying the Mad Hatter from the Alice in Wonderland books, and three-year-old Berry McManus assuming the role of Alice.

As well as an exhaustive range of literature encompassing an array of genres, the location is known for its coffee shop, with all profits from sales going to Love Russia, a Christian charity that strives to assist disadvantaged orphans, orphanage leavers and mums and their children in crisis.

Margaret said: “Our café allows people to relax and browse through a book or two of their choice while they enjoy a coffee or toasted tea cake, and it allows the business to continue supporting a wonderful charity.

“We believe we are the only trading shop on the Isle of Wight who supports the charity, and to date we have managed to subsidise structural renovation and development through staff training in 70 orphanages, which is something that we are very proud of.

“Ten years as an independent book shop is rare in the modern business climate, so we wanted to celebrate — a tribute to Lewis Carroll’s timeless novel seemed fitting.”

Books 2 Love sells a selection of children’s books, second hand bargain buys and collector’s editions, including first editions of the Harry Potter series.