LIBRARY staff in Stockton have received a plea for advice from Russia.

The email request for advice on setting up a mobile library came from Andrey Lisitskiy, head of the department of information and analysis in cultural affairs for Volgograd, in Russia.

Mr Lisitskiy said the department had received a grant to set up a Bookbus scheme and had found out about Stockton's scheme on the Internet.

Stockton's Bookbus makes regular visits to residential homes, nursing homes and day centres. It is adapted for wheelchair access so elderly and disabled people can board the bus to choose books.

Stockton's library service was named recently as one of only eight in the country to get Beacon Status.

The council's assistant director of education, leisure and cultural services Andrea Barker said: "The request was wonderful and we will be delighted to help.

"When we got Beacon Status we knew we might be approached by other local authorities for advice, but we never imagined we would be hearing from anyone quite this far afield."

Library staff will gather all documents kept on file since the Bookbus was commissioned in 1997.

The council aims to arrange for a group of delegates to travel from Volgograd to see the Bookbus.