VOLUNTEERS are set to help take over the running of Kinver Library after it was threatened with closure by Staffordshire County Council.

Around 20 volunteers have started receiving training, with more to follow.

District councillor Lin Hingley, who together with parish councillor Denise Geoghegan launched an appeal for help when the library came under threat, said: "It's lovely that so many people have come forward.

"We said we would need around 40 people to run the library and we've got close to that.

"Both Denise and myself agreed we had to do something when the library came under threat. I didn't want to see the number of hours reduced - or even worse the library closed.

"Once everyone has completed their training, I am confident the library will be well run.

"People forget the library isn't just about books. People also use the computers, ordinance maps and the music.

"We were able to monitor the amount of people who use the library in a year and it came to over 25,000, which isn't bad when you consider Kinver has a population of around 7,000."