BOOK-LOVERS in Rawdon are being invited to help themselves from a mini free library which has just been launched.

The Minister of Trinity Church Rev Helen Lambert suggested a Little Free Library after reading about the scheme on Facebook. She shared the idea on the Rawdon Our Community page and within a week the full £500 needed for the project had been raised.

A painted weather-proof cabinet full of books now stands at the edge of Helen’s front garden, on a route used by many children on their way to Rawdon Littlemoor School.

Anyone who passes by can help themselves or, if they want, they can leave a book. The volumes can be kept or returned and there is no charge.

The mini library on Micklefield Lane, Rawdon is the eighth to be put up in Leeds since last summer. The scheme began when the Little Free Library not-for-profit company installed its first repository in Headingley. The response from the community was so overwhelming that they decided to bring them to as many neighbourhoods across the city as possible.

The libraries are lovingly hand-made by joiner Dave Ayres and are designed to withstand any weather and keep the books dry. Each box is painted by a local artist, and the Rawdon one was painted by Jacky Fleming.

For more information contact Carry Franklin at carryf@hotmail.co.uk or 07791 880548. Follow the organisation on Facebook and Instagram at Leeds Little Free Library or on twitter at leedslillibrary.