A DOOMED library taken over by volunteers in Grappenhall has been officially opened.

Council bosses earmarked Grappenhall Libary for closure in 2010 because of falling visitor numbers.

But since it reopened its doors in January, the library has gone from strength to strength.

More than 500 people regularly borrow books while more than 100 are ‘friends’ – a group of supporters who pay £10 a year to keep the library running.

Sheelagh Connolly is one of the friends and has been instrumental in setting it up.

She said: “It is going really well, we are very pleased with the response we have had.

“We are seeing lots of young people use the library on Mondays and Tuesdays after school and we have an internet-enabled computer now too.”

In a latest boost, the group has been awarded almost £10,000 from the lottery to help fund a new kitchen on site.

New grant applications for Wren meanwhile aim to secure funding for disabled toilets while organisers also want double glazing introduced to ease running costs.

Sheelagh said: “We always said we wanted this to be more than a library.

“We want to be able to do teas and cakes for the old folks so they don’t have to go home and also provide proper facilities for them.

“We also have a mums and tots group in so we need the facilities for them.

“And we were a polling station last week so we are hoping that will allow more people to know we are here.”

Invited guests attended the opening, conducted by the Mayor and Grappenhall and Thelwall councillor Mike Biggin on Tuesday.

These included all those who have helped to reopen the Victoria Avenue building as well as the churches, Scouts, camera club and more.