A new app has been created to help children discover Bible stories in a fun and exciting way.

It makes for a timely release as new research published by the Bible Society has found that around half of British children never read or are never read Bible stories.

The research found that 54% of British children read Bible stories never or less than once a year at school or home, and that 45 per cent of parents with children aged 3 to 8 never read Bible stories to their child.

The Bible Storyteller app has been developed by Gavin Owen, leader of Core Church in Melksham and a Christian schools worker for 10 years.

The free app is available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android phones and Windows Phone, with no in-app purchases or adverts.

The app brings text, audio and video Bible stories direct to mobile devices, with each story originally written for use in primary school assemblies and aimed at children from 5 to 11-years-old.

Owen said: "I have re-told Bible stories to thousands of children in the county and always had a good response. The app came about because I wanted to share these Bible stories with a wider audience."

He hopes the app will be used by parents to engage their children with the Bible, as well as schools for their assemblies and RE lessons.

"I originally considered writing a book, but increasingly I encountered children who had a dislike of books and reading but a love of smart devices and the apps that go with them," he said.

"Apps are much easier to publish, are instantly available globally, can be publicised online through social media and can be given away for free, which would be unaffordable with a physical product.

"An app makes it possible to go beyond the written word – to also present Bible stories in audio and video formats in order to appeal to more people."

Paul Keeys, director of Walk Through the Bible Ministries, praised Owen as a great storyteller who shares Bible stories with "immense energy".

He encouraged people to use the app.

"The Bible Storyteller app is a great idea – it makes Gavin's Bible stories available to a huge audience, it's well designed, easy to use and it's free. What are you waiting for? Download it now," he said.

The app has been launched with a collection of more than a dozen Old and New Testament Bible Stories and new content is added each week.

To download the app search for "Bible Storyteller" at the App Store, Google Play or Windows Phone Store.