WITH true Brit spirit the people of Ainsworth are showing that people power can beat the system.

The village has Britain's smallest public lending library and Bury Metro decided that it was one of several branch libraries which had to close.

Volunteers stepped forward to man the library to ensure it stays open.

Bury Council backed these members of Ainsworth Community Association and allowed training by the Council's own library staff.

It is a success story which does credit to all involved.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.