VOLUNTEERS are needed to help run a community library after residents secured financial support from the county council to keep it open.

Iver Heath Village Library was earmarked for closure as part of Bucks County Council's (BCC) budget savings.

But, after a business plan was put forward by secondary school teacher Alison Ward and residents, BCC offered the committee a �15,000 grant, over five years, to keep the library open.

Committee spokeswoman Mrs Ward said: "There was a chance that the library was going to close. There's a big meeting and we want people to come in and volunteer." The committee is looking for volunteers to help at the public meeting on Thursday, April 19, at 7.30pm, at the library in St Margaret's Close, and to come up with organisational ideas.

Mrs Ward added: "The library would continue its already excellent links with both Iver Heath Infant School and Iver Heath Junior School. We are also hoping to run lots of clubs and activities for the community.

"We are hoping that residents will support their library by giving up just a few hours a week and people popping in to tell us what they would like from it." David Jones, BCC service delivery manager, is working with the volunteers and will support them by maintaining the building and providing computers and books.

He said: "We looked at ways of keeping libraries going.

"Local people are more serious about taking on the full responsibility for the library.

"There will be lots of support. They had to come up with a business plan by the end of March, which they did.

"We would hope to have things up and running by September. That's a reasonable time to set as a goal." The library is currently open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am-1pm and 2-5pm and on Saturdays from 10am-1pm.