A library has opened a new "garden room" after raising £45,000.

The new space at Gainsborough Community Library in Ipswich will be used by community groups and library users.

The extension took place after donations from the ‘Voices 4 Gainsborough Community Library’, Ipswich East Rotary Club, St Lawrence Parish Hall Trust and locality funding from local Suffolk County Councillors Liz Harsant, Lucy Smith & Paul West.

The new room has been built in the garden and has been decorated with new plants to help the new part of the library feels green and colourful.

Mandy Grimwood, library manager, said: “We are very excited to be opening this new extension and library space which will benefit the whole community and provide somewhere for people to enjoy wellbeing, learn new skills and to socialise.

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"We have so much going on at Gainsborough Community Library and we can now offer even more to local people.

"We’re so grateful to everyone who helped us raise the money for this project and the wonderful volunteers who cleared the area in preparation for the garden room to be installed.”

The library also received £2,500 from the Arnold Clark Community Fund to provide free items to local people including hot drinks, snacks, toiletries, and period products.