A new neighbourhood community hub has opened in Twydall which hopes to bring local residents together.

The new hub in Twydall Green, has replaced the old library and is nearly double the size after an extension into an empty shop next door.

Residents can access a wide range of council services from the hub, including help with inquiries from trained staff, more computers with free internet access, free wifi, new books and a new space for community groups to use.

Deborah Butcher, senior library assistant, said: “We have expanded into the shop next door and now have two meeting rooms, which local community groups can use.

“In October we hope to have baby, bounce and rhyme and toddler shake and boogie sessions, after school crafts, pop in and play sessions.

“We have a customer contact team and council inquiries desk, which offers more services for our customers.

“We hope to bring the community together and meet new people. We have reading groups.

“We have had a lot of people in, I think people have been waiting a long time to have something like this here.”

A Knit and Natter group also meets at the community hub each Monday, between 10am to noon.

Sheila Harris, from the group, said she loved the hub’s new look.

“It’s lovely,” She said. “On days like today we really do appreciate the air conditioning!”

The library also offers a housebound service for customers who find it difficult to travel to the library. Once a month a volunteer will drop off and collect books, DVDs and jigsaws to customers.

Medway Council’s head of community services, Cllr Howard Doe, said: “This is great news for Twydall.

"Residents can now access a whole host of council services from one place and their much-loved library has had a revamp and is stocked with new books.

“Community hubs have proved to be a great success elsewhere in Medway and I am pleased Twydall is now part of that success.”

For more information about the new hub visit www.medway.gov.uk/communityhubs.