BENTHAM library has found a new home.

Its book-filled shelves are to relocate from Main Street to King Street, at High Bentham, some time in late spring or early summer.

The library is to occupy the first floor of the Pioneer Projects centre, a local charity that delivers creative writing, crafts, health and wellbeing and community events.

Bentham library will be community-run from April 1, when North Yorkshire County Council will require all libraries to be supported or run by volunteers.

Volunteers from the Friends of Bentham Library have been busy working on the project with council staff, and it is hoped to offer much longer opening hours at the new location - 35 hours per week potentially, compared to 15 hours at present.

The relocated library will be run by the same management board as Pioneer Projects, reducing costs and making more efficient use of the King Street building, which has full access for people with disabilities.

County councillor Chris Metcalfe said: "The county council will continue to offer staff training and to maintain the library stock and we are delighted that this excellent solution to the library’s future has been secured."

Twenty-six volunteers have been recruited for the library, and anyone else who would like to give their time is asked to call Pioneer Projects on 01524-262672 or John Frankland, county council service development officer, on 01609-534547.