FROM Fifty Shades of Grey to family sagas, bookworms in Middlesbrough have an insatiable appetite for reading. LUCY RICHARDSON hops aboard the housebound library van to hear why the service is so valued.

SOMETIMES he walks straight into a home without even knocking, other times he is met on the porch and the only glimpse Steve Potter has ever had of one elderly woman wanting to exchange books is a child-like hand reaching out nervously from behind a front door.

As a retired firefighter with 35 years experience of saving lives his days of rescuing people from burning buildings may be over but he is still throwing a lifeline to those in need.

The housebound service has between 240 and 300 residents on its books, which fluctuates as people die, opt out, or due to seasonal changes – people take out fewer books in summer says Steve.

Historical romance authors including Maureen Lee and Middlesbrough’s own Bill Spence writing under the psydeneum Jessica Blair are popular as are crime stories.

One little white-haired old lady stipulated gruesome thriller novels and there was a long waiting list for the cult erotic novel by EL James, Fifty Shades of Grey.

“I went into a care home and a lady said I have a book in my drawer that makes Fifty Shades of Grey look like Noddy”. And she was in her 90s”, he says wide-eyed.

For those unable to get to their branch libraries, the housebound service delivers up to 15 books in print or audio every three weeks.

When members’ first sign up they are asked to provide information about the genres and favourite authors and then it is left to the library team based at Thorntree Community Hub to collect a list of tempting titles. And they are not shy about coming forward if the ‘lucky dip’ books is not to their taste.

“They are not afraid to tell you if they don’t like it. We think they think we read them all, but of course we can’t,” he says.

The double decker mobile library was scrapped as a result of the council’s austerity drive so crates of books are now loaded into a white hire van.

Since the cuts hit five years ago, 50 per cent of the town’s library budget has been lost. As well as the town’s flagship Central library it has nine branches, of which four are now located in community ‘hubs’ and the ones in Marton and Hemlington are now run by volunteers.

Our first stop is to the home of housebound Vera Payne, 86, whose eyes light up when she sees Steve and invites us inside for a chat.

“I love it the housebound service and couldn’t do without it as I can’t walk. I’m very happy with the selection of books I get. I love reading so I’d cry if the library service ever closed,” she says.

Fans of audiobooks who are reluctant to move with the times onto CDs can still access cassette tapes and there has been a flurry of interest in e-books.

Partially sighted Sheila Anderson only requests audio books which she listens to on a CD player also provided by the council. “I hardly watch television because of my sight so with this I can put the CD on and potter about. What’s also great about the service is it’s nice to see a smile from Steve,” adds the 78-year-old.

There is a sense that Steve, himself an avid reader, is one of the reasons the service is so valued. At some of the houses we visit the readers are sitting eagerly awaiting his arrival with their books ready. Although he can’t linger long, it’s clear to see that a bit of banter with him makes their day.

“It’s too nice to be inside on a day like this,” he says to one pensioner, “Get your bikini on and get outside in the garden,” he tells her on his way out.

But for former intensive care nurse, Catherine Monaghan, problems with a neighbour, home adaptations and worry over an impending hospital appointment prompts the 83-year-old cancer sufferer to burst into tears in front of the friendly face when he asks how she is.

“Some people live by the service,” adds Sharon Manners when we get back to base. “There are lot of people we go to who are not housebound and lots have family who visit regularly but for some we can be the only person they see.”

In England, 51 per cent of all people over 75 live alone and five million older people say the television is their main form of company.

“Because the library service does not make any money we seem to be the first one in the firing line,” she adds. “If this was not here a lot of people in the Middlesbrough community would suffer so it’s a great attribute to the town.”