A woman is brightening up her village with a mini library for the community to use.

Christine Henderson has re-purposed an outside storage box to create the book swapping kiosk outside her home in Love Lane, Minster, on Sheppey.

Residents, young and old, are able to take books at their leisure or deposit any read or unwanted novels they might have in it.

Christine, who has four children and seven grandchildren, said: “I happened to see the community library at Halfway on Facebook and thought it was a great idea.

“I contacted the lady and she kindly brought four bags of books up for me to get started.

“I already had an outside storage cupboard, so I thought I’d use that. I cleaned it up and have stuck all kinds of posters on it so people know what it’s all about.”

The 68-year-old said she had had plenty of books donated because libraries and charity shops have been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I must have about 80 books in there,” she said. “I’ve been quite surprised with the take-up, and I’ve had people message me and stop me on the street saying it’s a good idea. I’ve got all types of books and for all ages, but it could do with some more for children.

“I would like to see more children taking up the offer of taking the books.

“I tell people to take as many books as they’d like and to pass them on to people - they don’t have to bring them back.”

“The strange thing is, I don’t read books myself,” Christine joked. “The last time I think I picked a book up was when I was in my 20s, on a train to work.

“I’m just not a reader, as such, but I am going to try again as I keep telling my grandchildren, ‘you must read’.

'The strange thing is, I don’t read books myself. The last time I think I picked a book up was when I was in my 20s, on a train to work...'

“Getting older, slowing down and being stuck indoors I think maybe this is the time to do something different than I normally do.”

The mini library is open 24/7 and there is hand sanitiser provided for people to use before touching the books so as not to spread coronavirus.

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