Dozens of volunteers have stepped in to save Chorleywood Library after huge cuts to the library budget.

More than 100 people have expressed an interest in volunteering at Chorleywood Library, Lower Road after Hertfordshire County Council slashed £2.5million cuts to the library budget.

A total of 60 volunteers have now also been trained on how to run the library and this means it will be one of the first volunteer-led libraries in Hertfordshire.

Angela Killick, Chair of the Chorleywood Library Volunteers, said “Volunteers run community libraries successfully in Buckinghamshire, so I am confident we will be able to do the same in Hertfordshire.

“It will take public spirited effort, and will help to develop local friendly networks. I think overall we are very lucky in Chorleywood.”

Hertfordshire County Council decided to axe more than £2.5million from the libraries budget but vowed to keep all libraries open.

Libraries have also been placed into three different categories. Tier 3 libraries will be forced to rely on a greater number of volunteers and there will be "self-service access" to many of the services.

Tier 2 libraries will retain staff "during core hours" and offer a wide range of stock while Tier 1 libraries would be staffed by trained library staff.

Chorleywood Library was initially put into Tier 3, but more than 2,250 people signed a petition calling for the library to be made Tier 2.

Cllr Teresa Heritage, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Localism and Libraries, said: “It’s fantastic that so many people in Chorleywood are passionate about their local library. Volunteering is a great way to give something back, meet new people and also learn new skills.

“Our Inspiring Libraries strategy will make our Library Service more accessible to the community, increasing the number of residents using the service while costing the taxpayer less. To manage the huge financial challenges we are facing, we have to do things differently.

“This strategy will save £2.5million from the library service budget by 2018, build a more modern service and keep our library buildings open.”

By March 2016, £1million will be axed from the budget and £1million will be slashed from the budget a year after. Around £500,000 will then be cut from the budget by March 2018.