A RESTAURANT in Stokesley has become the latest business to get behind the town’s community library, which is run by a team of local volunteers.

Stokesley’s library was one of 21 in North Yorkshire which the county council last year handed over to the community to run, after the local authority could no longer afford to operate all of its libraries.

At the time there were fears the venture would never get off the ground, requiring a large number of volunteers and funding to stay afloat.

But dozens of volunteers came forward with offers of help to run the venture, which was renamed The Globe on opening.

Following a consultation with residents, Stokesley Town Council also increased its annual precept to pay for a professional library manager to run the resource and oversee its volunteer workforce.

Now another business has also offered to sponsor the library. The Panda Chinese restaurant on Bridge Road in Stokesley will be donating £300 a year to The Globe.

A spokesperson for the library said: “Since The Globe came into being in April 2016, when North Yorkshire County Council handed over the building to the community, it has gone from strength to strength.

“More and more people are enjoying what the library has to offer; its books and its huge range of activities for people of all ages.”

Other businesses sponsoring the library are; Tanton Industries, Domestic Bliss, Redmayne Bentley, Taylor Wimpey and Newtons Solicitors.

Library manager Jane Hall said: “We are delighted that the Panda restaurant has come on board, and very grateful indeed to all of those individuals and businesses that currently provide financial support.

“We are self-standing and to run The Globe, money is always needed.

“We thank the business community and Friends of the Globe, plus others including North Yorkshire County Council, Hambleton District Council and Stokesley Town Council for their help.”

To sign up and support the community venture, please email; library.theglobe@gmail.com