A library that was threatened with closure 12 months ago has marked the beginning of a new dawn as it also celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Bungay Library has become of the first libraries in Suffolk to be run by the Industrial and Provident Society (IPS), which was set up by the county council to oversee all of the county's library services.

There had been concerns that the library would close when the council announced plans to cut costs last year and the Save Bungay Library group formed to call for the facility to not only be saved, but improved.

Now a group of people from the community has been drawn together to drive the library forward as an IPS pilot.

Sylvia Knights, who campaigned and is now a member of the IPS board, said: 'We agreed last year to become a pilot under the new structure and have spent the last several months preparing a business plan, and identifying the most appropriate form of legal entity to adopt for the new Bungay community library.'

The library has been charged with saving �2,000, as part of a county-wide �100,000 reduction, and Mrs Knights said they intend to conduct fundraising to help meet this target.

'We hope not only to continue the service and activities currently offered, but to increase and enhance them,' she said.

'But we will need help from the community, and plan to hold various events to raise funds.'

IPS chairman Shona Bendix and general manager Alison Wheeler were among those who attended the event that also coincided with World Book Night.

There were also performances from musicians Nell Close and Kenneth Lynn, and poet Luke Wright.