FAMILIES were in Wonderland during a fun day held to celebrate the reopening of the newly refurbished Yarm Library.

The Alice in Wonderland event included a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party as curious Yarm shoppers checked out the new look centre.

It has been refurbished as part of Stockton Borough Council’s programme to update and improve town centre branches and will also house a Newcastle Building Society branch.

The library features new furniture and self-service facilities, and has undergone improvements to the children’s section, outdoor garden area and disabled access.

There has been controversy in the Fairfield area of Stockton and the nearby village of Egglescliffe where library closures are proposed to cut costs. It has been speculated that the proposed closure of the Fairfield library contributed to the surprise Conservative victory in the recent Grangefield council seat by-election. Many people from the Grangefield area use the Fairfield Library.

There is hope that the Fairfield branch closure, which would save £77,000 a year, could yet be prevented. Labour councillor Carol Clark has proposed the library is also used as a children’s nursery, which would release funds to keep the place open.

In a similar scheme, the under threat Roseworth’s library moved into Redhill Children’s Centre, and now the two ventures exist alongside each other.

Find out more at stockton.gov.uk/libraries