Andy Serkis to read from The Hobbit

Fulham Palace Gardens will be transformed into 'The Shire' from 'Lord of the Rings' today to celebrate the birthday of J.R.R. Tolkein's character Bilbo Baggins.

Film star Andy Serkis, who plays Gollum in the upcoming movie 'The Hobbit', will read extracts from the book to 150 guests.

It's part of a push by publisher HarperCollins to get more British children into reading.

Thousands of schools across the country are being encouraged to throw a traditional Hobbit's Second Breakfast.