PASSERS-BY were amazed by the life-like "dummies" in Waterstones bookshop window yesterday.

At first glance, the display looked fairly ordinary - until on closer inspection shoppers discovered that the dummies were actually breathing!

It was all part of a stunt by the book shop's staff to promote World Book Day.

Staff took turns to sit in the window of the Deansgate shop like waxworks dummies doing what they are trying to encourage everyone to do - reading a book.

The unusual display lasted throughout the day.

Branch manager Andrew McManus said: "We wanted to make people more aware of what was going on inside the shop. Staff took turns to sit in the large recess in the window in front of the promotional display to attract people's attention."

The shop celebrated World Book Day by running a number of promotions aimed at making reading more fun.

Customers are invited to write a review of their favourite book with the best being displayed in the Deansgate branch.

Children are also being urged to put pen to paper to describe their favourite books.

Winners can pick up a £10 voucher and schools also stand the chance of winning a year's worth of extra discount with the store. Favourite children's books will be printed in a special Top Ten next month.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.