A Cwmgwili library manager has offered his tongue-in-cheek thanks to Barack Obama after the US President appeared to steal his idea.

Steve Jeacock, Labour’s Carmarthen East and Dinefwr candidate for next year’s Assembly elections, instigated a scheme in Killay to ensure every primary school child in the area was made a member of the library.

The scheme won the Gold Award at the Welsh Libraries Marketing Awards and was adopted by the Welsh Government as a pilot project two years ago under the title, Every Child a Library Member.

It became a national project across the whole of Wales this year and has been championed in England by comedian David Walliams.

President Obama has now announced a similar scheme in the United States where all school pupils receive a public library card.

"I am delighted that the leader of the free world has taken upon himself to pinch my idea without asking,” said Steve.

“I will try and have a chat with him the next time he is in Wales.

“Obviously I am also delighted to see that England has decided to follow Wales and adopt this initiative.

“As the manager of a community library, I see first-hand the wonderful impact that reading has on children’s lives.

“By making every primary school child a member of their local library, we give more children the chance to benefit from that experience.”