A WEST Somerset village has seen a soaring interest in books over lockdown – and now its very own permanent book store will officially open on Saturday, May 22, in line with the relaxation of covid rules.

Housed in Carhampton Recreation Centre, the aptly named Books To Come And Go, has been created after interest grew, donations mushroomed and a local volunteer had the idea of making what was a sporadic event into a permanent part of village life.

“We are very, very pleased at how it has evolved,” said Lucy Parker, treasurer for the recreation centre.

“We have always had a book store with about 100 books over the last few years, which people donated and which were sold at village fetes. Then, before Christmas, we had an offer of several bookcases, everyone started donating books and that snowballed to almost 1,000 now.”

The books were housed in an area previously used for storage but which was carpeted when the recreation centre won a grant to establish a heritage centre there.

Villager Evie Jupe, who had opened the book store whenever possible during the past year, had the idea of making it a permanent venue where members of the community could bring unwanted books and buy new ones in return.

She categorised all the stock, and during the last lockdown, the area was painted, the bookcases touched up and everything redecorated. Now the book store will be open every Saturday morning.

“We are really pleased with the support for it, and also hope that every time there is a class or anything on at the centre, people will come and browse and bring or buy books themselves,” said Lucy.

“It has turned something that was just for storing chairs into a much more beautiful area for the community.”

The charges of 50p a book, or three for £1, will help cover running costs.