BBC's Big Read boosts book sales

More than 750,000 people voted for their favourite book

The BBC's search to find the nation's favourite book has been credited with bringing about a five-fold increase in sales of its top 21 books.

Figures compiled for the BBC Two series also suggest library lending of the top titles has been boosted by 123%.

BBC Two controller Jane Root said she was thrilled that as a direct result of the show more people in the UK were engaging with literature on all levels.

JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings won the series final which ran in autumn 2003.

The epic fantasy trilogy beat Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice into second place and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials into third.

The search for the nation's favourite book began in April when viewers were asked to nominate the books they loved the most.

Book champions

A shortlist of 100 was drawn up and eventually whittled down to a top 21.

Well known personalities or "book champions" made the case for the top 21 books in a series of shows between 18 October to 13 December.

The programme also aimed to engender the appreciation of literature and improve literacy standards.

Scores of reading clubs were set up for both adults and children.