PUB-GOERS can pour over the latest hit novels whilst enjoying a pint, as an inn sets up its own pub library.

In what some would describe as a match made in heaven, the Black Bull pub in the Yorkshire Dales village of Melsonby, near Richmond, is combining beer and books as it offers its own lending library.

The village once had a mobile library service, but when it lost that, landlady Sally Williamson decided the village needed an alternative.

She will be collecting about 150 books from Catterick Library, which will be changed every month. The landlady has even offered to try and hunt down any bestsellers people wish to read.

North Yorkshire County Council’s library service has waived the usual requirements of a library ticket and instead Ms Williamson will be writing down the names of people who have borrowed a book.

She said: “We already open early to sell the newspapers from 8am in the morning. So people can come in at that time and have a coffee and a snack and look through the books, or after 11am can have a beer while they use our library if they want.

“The books will be there as long as the pub is open, so we’re also hoping people will come in after work if they want to find a good read.”

The inaugural opening day of the library will be Saturday, February 25 from 10.30am and there will be children’s storytelling at 3pm.

For more information contact the pub on 01325-718811.