A NEW community library and drop-in centre which will become a focal point for many householders in East Bury has opened its doors.

And it is a tribute to the work of the New Mosses Tenants' and Residents' Association members who are lobbying for more facilities for what they claim is "a forgotten area".

The four-room centre and library, officially opened by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bury, Councillor Paul Nesbit and his wife, Shirley, is located in South Cross Street. The former home had been a base for the Bury Asian Women's Centre until a year ago.

Father Derek Hailes of Holy Trinity Church, joint chairman of the association, said: "We've set up the community library and drop-in centre in consultation with Bury Council's library section.

"The money we required for the project came through members' subscriptions plus a start-up grant from the East Area Board. We're getting the building from the council at a peppercorn rent."

Books will be in English and Urdu and the library will be open to the public immediately after Easter.

More volunteers are required to run the service, although at this stage it is unclear how many days the library will be open to the public.

The drop-in centre will be a social facility for local people, allowing them to pop in for a cup of tea and a chat.

And there are plans to run homework clubs for local schoolchildren.

Fr Hailes added: "The association has been going for exactly a year and we've been campaigning for one or two things.

"What we also want to get going is the re-opening of the roads around Spring Street. We want the council to unblock them.

"One of our concerns is that when the emergency services are called out to this area, they invariably come up the wrong street and can't get to the other end and have to turn about."

The association has also successfully lobbied for enhanced street lighting in the area.

Fr Hailes said another aim was to persuade people not to dump left-over food in bags outside their homes.

He said: "Many Asian families put the food out for animals. But it attracts pigeons and rats. We want to get over to them that pigeons and rats are the carriers of meningitis and that these bags should be taken to local tips."

Since its formation, the association has grown to a 100-strong membership and is at the forefront of representing the views of local people.

Fr Hailes concluded: "We had felt this area was almost forgotten as far as the council was concerned. We want improvements where necessary."