A NEW chapter for library services in Darlington is beginning with a show of determination and community spirit from the residents of Heighington.

In the wake of devastating cuts and changes to services across the town, villagers have banded together to plug the gap after losing their much-valued mobile library service.

Earlier this month, councillors voted in favour of proposals that will see Darlington’s historic Crown Street library closed and resources moved to the nearby Dolphin Centre, Cockerton Library handed over to volunteers and the town’s mobile library axed completely.

The mobile library service was particularly well-used in rural areas like Heighington, where a new facility was launched on Thursday to ensure everyone in the village continues to have regular access to books.

On Thursday, The Northern Echo’s Chris Lloyd cut the ribbon and officially opened Books@Heighington, an initiative backed by residents and led by the Village Hall Association.

More than 1,000 books are already on the shelves with a further 1,000 in storage at the facility presided over by volunteer Dilys Moss, who has run the village’s book club for 23 years.

Based inside the Village Hall, on the site of the former post office, the “quasi-library” is free to join, with users invited to offer a donation of just 10p for every book borrowed.

Karin Allison, secretary of the Village Hall Association, said: “We first discussed the idea of launching a book exchange when the council first mooted plans to stop the mobile library service.

“That came to the village for years and was heavily used, especially by elderly people who are unable to just hop on a bus and go into Darlington for books.

“It is incredibly important for us to have this kind of facility in the village, particularly because we have an ageing population – we’re effectively replacing a service for them.”

She added: “My personal view is that I’m quite concerned about the impact of cuts generally – I appreciate savings have to be made but the mobile library was an important service.

“It wasn’t just somewhere for people to get books but it also gave them somewhere to go where they could see other people in the village.

“It’s not just about books, it’s about the social side of things for people who may be quite isolated.”

Cllr Gerald Lee, whose wife Ruth was instrumental in suggesting the new scheme, said: “This is an example of the can-do attitude in this village, which now has a brilliant community library in it.”

Ms Moss will coordinate volunteers at the facility. She said: “When the village hall committee came up with this idea to fill the gap, I volunteered.

“I’ve run the village book club for 23 years and I love books.”

Books@Heighington will be open from 2pm until 4.30pm on the second and last Thursdays of each month, running alongside the village’s popular jigsaw club.