A LOCKDOWN library has been set up to help residents fight the isolation blues.

Holly Turner, from Save Manningtree Library campaign group, started the initiative after being approached by residents who were struggling without the library.

She said these people do not have the resources to access eBooks and cannot afford to keep buying new books for themselves and their children.

Therefore, she came up with the idea to put together a selection of books and display them on a driveway, so people can freely take a book and keep them.

She emphasised the initiative is not a community library.

She said: “This is a temporary initiative and in no way is a substitute for the wealth of services and expertise our local library and library staff offer our community.

“It just goes to show how important libraries, and librarians are and will continue to be in the future.

“We know 1.9 million households are without internet access and libraries are so often the safety net for vulnerable people.”

The lockdown library has been set up in three locations - California Road, Mistley, The Street, Bradfield and Milton Road, Lawford.

People are asked to use the hand gel provided at all times.

Email savemanningtreelibrary @outlook.com for more.