An old phone box has been converted into a free library thanks to a £12,000 grant.
The Watford Gurdwara, also known as Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Watford, received the grant from the borough council's Neighbourhood Grant programme.
The project has turned the classic British phone box into a library, providing access to books for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Watford mayor Peter Taylor said: "We are thrilled to support the Watford Sri Singh Sabha Gurdwara in helping to create a free phone box library for our town.
"This project exemplifies the spirit of community engagement and inclusivity, providing access to books for people of all backgrounds.
"We commend the Gurdwara's commitment to maintaining this valuable resource, and we are grateful to Tesco Watford for their generous contribution, ensuring a diverse and regularly updated collection of books."
Tesco Watford has pledged to support the project by supplying a regular collection of second-hand books at no cost. This will ensure a diverse and continuously updated collection for the phone box library users.
Members of the Gurdwara have committed to maintaining the phone box library to ensure continued accessibility and value to the community.
It will be operational from 7am to 9pm daily, in line with the Gurdwara's hours.
Volunteers will also keep the phone box clean, both inside and out, providing a safe and welcoming space for all visitors.
Herjit Gill, trustee of The Watford Gurdwara, said: "Amit Bansal of Accountants For Good, our chartered accountant who successfully established a previous phone box library in 2013, has provided inspiration for this endeavour.
"His success demonstrates the transformative potential of such initiatives and serves as a testament to the power of community-driven projects, including ones that help create a vibrant atmosphere of reading and community involvement.
"Thank you to the council for helping bring this project to life."
The next round of funding for the Neighbourhood Grant will be in 2025.
The programme, funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) from developers of new housing, runs annually to mitigate the effects of development and enhance the local community's sustainable growth.
The Watford Gurdwara, based in Kings Close, is a centre dedicated to building strong ties within the Sikh and Interfaith community.
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