CHARMOUTH Central library celebrated the opening of its new internet cafe.

Volunteers and residents packed the community-managed library for the opening of The Servery.

There were so many people they spilled out into the garden.

A volunteer group took over the running of the library in February from Dorset County Council.

The Servery is housed in an extension built with a grant from the Big Lottery Fund and equipped with a grant from Dorset Community Foundation. The internet cafe will sell tea, coffee, cold drinks and snacks as well as locally-produced goods.

At the opening there was a host of activities including children’s activities, coffee tastings, readings and a book-signing.

Best-selling author Jane Fraser, who writes as Janey Fraser, and Sophie King, read to the group from her latest novel Happy Families and officially opened The Servery.

Chairman of Friends of Charmouth Library and of Charmouth Central Limited, Hazel Robinson, said the event was a great success.

She said: “It went absolutely brilliantly. We were really crowded out.”

The space is already being used as a meeting place for small community groups as well as being a facility everyone in the community can use and enjoy.

At present 50 volunteers man the library.

Mrs Robinson said: “Considering we are only a village of 1,600, it’s quite a proportion.”

She added: “It will be a useful addition to village life.”