A brand new community-run library has opened in Peasedown St John as a result of Bath & North East Somerset Council's Modern Libraries Programme.

The library will be run by more than 20 volunteers at St John's Community Hall and will be open for 12 hours a week, stocked with 700 books for residents to enjoy.

Also available will be access to the 'Click and Collect' service which means that residents will be able to order and return books available from the LibrariesWest catalogue, as well as return books borrowed from other libraries. New library members can also be enrolled.

The library was opened yesterday (28 October) by bestselling author Adrian Tinniswood OBE, a visiting fellow in Heritage and History at Bath Spa University.

Councillor Paul Crossley, cabinet member for Community Services, said: "Libraries not only provide access to a range of information and literature but they are also an important point of social contact, especially for people living in rural communities. This library will be a fantastic facility for Peasedown St John residents and I would like to thank the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to get the library ready for opening."

The volunteers were awarded a grant of £5,000 by Bath & North East Somerset Council to fund the preparation for the library and the officers from the council's libraries team have provided practical support. Curo has provided use of St John's Community Hall free-of-charge.

The volunteers have also set up a new dementia-friendly, sensory garden outside of the library for visitors to enjoy.

The library will be open on Mondays from 1pm to 4pm, Wednesdays from 1pm to 7pm and Saturdays from 10am to1pm. Other services include free access to the internet, tea and coffee making facilities and A4 photocopying/scanning services.

More information about Peasedown St John community library can be found at www.facebook.com/PSJcommunitylibrary

To find out how the council delivers community libraries, go to https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/community-libraries