A LIBRARY run by volunteers has celebrated its first anniversary.

A party was held to mark a year since volunteers launched a library at the Barlow Institute in Bolton Road, Edgworth.

Volunteers clubbed together last year to continue providing Edgworth with the service after Blackburn with Darwen Council axed the village’s mobile library as part of £33 million budget cuts.

It is run by 50 volunteers, who also manage a cafe.

Dignitaries from Blackburn with Darwen Council, along with Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry and volunteers, enjoyed a celebration at the library.

It stocks about 500 books — 250 are from the council and 50 are replaced every six weeks.

The remaining books came from donations.

Volunteer Penny Clissold said: “We have a library and a cafe because we thought if it works for Waterstones it would work for us.

“We have about 50 books going out each week.

“Without the library, people would have to travel to Blackburn, Darwen or Bolton.

“It’s a long way to travel, particularly for elderly people who might want audio books.

“We are able to collect people with a home delivery service which takes place every two weeks.

“We just hope to continue for a further year and hope to expand.”

The volunteers said they were overwhelmed with donations last year and are currently unable to accommodate any more.

Duplicate books and books that have not been used are donated to Oxfam, where they are given to people in this country or in third world countries.

The library is open every Saturday, from 10am to 1pm.

Two story-time sessions for youngsters have proved to be popular.