SHERBURN volunteers who saved their local library from closure are celebrating a first successful year.

When North Yorkshire County Council revealed it could no longer afford to keep the Sherburn & Villages library open, due to national budget cuts, the Sherburn in Elmet community trust was formed, with more than 70 local people offering to train as volunteer staff.

The trust took over running the library on April 1 2017 and has honoured its pledge to keep it open four days a week, plus Saturday mornings.

The first anniversary was celebrated at a social evening with live music from Jammin' For Fun, which features six guitarists and a ukulele player from Sherburn's U3A (University of the Third Age) seniors' association.

As well as Sherburn, the community library serves the local area, including Barkston Ash, Saxton and South Milford.

Gordon Jack, who lives in South Milford, said: "The library brings the community together.

"We listen to local people and try to provide what they need.

"The library is a good, safe place for everyone and it gives the volunteers great satisfaction to know they are keeping it open."

In the past year, they have recorded 32,444 customer visits and a total of 7,460 volunteer hours were contributed.

There are now plans to further improve services by providing an information hub, to advise people about public services, including local transport, leisure activities and social benefits.

Former librarian Deborah Raven, of Sherburn, one of the trust's volunteer managers, said: "Libraries are absolutely vital, especially for children and young people.

"It is everyone's right to have libraries."

Trust chair Paul Doherty said: "It has been a successful first year and all the wonderful volunteers who have helped keep this vital community facility open deserve a huge pat on the back."