The opening of the new facility, in the old NatWest building, will open on Saturday, February 25.

Excitement is building as Ottery’s ‘state-of-the-art’ new library prepares to open its doors this month.

The facility will move out of its current space at the Flexton into the former NatWest building.

Its opening day will be Saturday, February 25.

The premises has undergone refurbishment through the partnership of Ottery Town Council, Devon County Council and Libraries Unlimited. The new library will provide better access for pushchairs and wheelchairs, and also be base for the town’s Tourist Information Centre and new public toilets

Richard Bonnie, treasurer of Friends of Ottery Library (FOOL), said: “It’s going to be wonderful - it’s a much better building. We are trying to organise all kinds of activities to help people and Ottery to make it a community hub.”

FOOL has contributed £3,000 towards the new premises, including its boiler and kitchen equipment.

Mr Bonnie added: “It’s going to look very good - it has the latest standard of equipment. It’s going to have more space, so more room for the books. There will be a conference room in addition.”

The library at the Flexton will close on Saturday, February 18, so stock can be moved. The new premises will open with a packed programme of events a week later.

The building will also house the town’s Tourist Information Centre, which is currently being run out of Seasons Tearooms.

Mayor Glyn Dobson said: “We knew the library was under threat because of access and we also knew there was a big campaign for public toilets. There was a need for it, but we never had an opportunity because we never had a building. When the TIC’s lease was up, we had three problems and we could sort them out with one building.”

He added that the new building would benefit more people in the community, with better disabled access.

The work has been carried out by local builder David Strawbridge and his team, who will now move on to the next part of the work - to complete the town’s new public toilets.

The library’s first event will be a photography competition aimed at youngsters aged 18 and under. Entrants from the town and surrounding villages are being encouraged to snap up to three photos on a mobile phone, based on the theme ‘who needs words?’.

The closing date for entries is Sunday, March 12. For more information, email fonesnap2017@gmail.com