CULCHETH Library will open next month following the successful reopening of seven LiveWire libraries last week.

In just five days, LiveWire saw 3,300 visits and more than 2,900 items borrowed from its libraries in Burtonwood, Orford, Great Sankey, Lymm, Stockton Health, Warrington and Woolston.

The community interest company has now said if all continues to go to plan, the next phase of library reopening will see Culcheth reopen in August, followed by the borough's remaining four libraries in September and October.

Health and safety measures put in place included social distancing for customers and staff, one-way systems around parts of the buildings, hand sanitiser at entrances and exits and the quarantine of books for 72 hours after they are returned.

There continues to be a focus on e-books at well as the Library at Home offer for vulnerable customers, and a new Order and Collect service.

Emma Hutchinson, managing director of LiveWire, said: "It has been wonderful to welcome people of all ages back into our libraries - firmly proving the important place they have in our communities.

"The new hygiene and social distancing measures we have put in place for the safety of customers and staff have worked very well and the physical libraries are ably being backed up by our online and home library offers.

"As a result of the initial reopening of seven library sites going so well, we are able to look ahead to the next phase of reopening more libraries in the borough, starting with Culcheth in August and followed by the remaining libraries in the coming months.

"We thank all of our customers for their patience over this period and their ongoing commitment to Warrington libraries, and our partners and Warrington Borough Council for their support."

Cllr Tony Higgins, Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for leisure and community, said: "We’ve worked really hard to get our first seven libraries re-opened safely.

"I’m delighted that the first week of re-opening has been such a success.

"It’s great to see customers back and the safety measures we’ve put in place for everyone running so smoothly.

"Safety is at the heart of all the work we are doing to re-open every library in the borough, as soon as possible.

"It’s great news that we are now in a position to move to the next phase of libraries reopening, starting with Culcheth next month."

For more information on the reopening of libraries visit livewirewarrington.co.uk/news.