AINSWORTH Library, believed to be the smallest in the country, is here to stay.

People power saved the day when the library was threatened with closure 18 months ago.

It was due to be one of the casualties when Bury Council had to make multi-million pound cuts. But a volunteer team from the local community association stepped in to man the tiny 2,000-book library.

Now its future is assured as the council is to take control once again.

Ainsworth Community Association's team leader, Mr Ian Hopkins, who helped to organise the volunteer rota, said: "We are absolutely delighted at the council's decision to take over the running of the facility once more.

"We never envisaged that we would become permanent librarians, and we simply acted as we did to give the council a breathing space until the financial situation improved."

The dedicated band of volunteers took turns to run the library each Monday and Friday afternoon.

They were allowed to take over the service because many of the users were elderly and would have been unable to travel to other libraries in the borough.

Councillor Barry Briggs, who worked with the association to keep the library open, said: "Local libraries are very much part of their communities and none more so than at Ainsworth where there is a strong sense of community."

He added: "I would like to thank all the volunteers and it just shows what the council and community working together can do."

The council's cultural services spokesman, Councillor Siobhan Costello, revealed that it would continue working with the association to see what developments and improvements were needed.

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