Library volunteers in Barnet were thanked for their services at a celebration with the borough’s mayor yesterday.

A total of 136 people put themselves forward for the Barnet Borough Council scheme since it began in November last year.

The volunteers, aged from 14 to an impressive 85, have clocked up 3,526 hours of work filling book shelves, assisting with children’s reading groups and providing ICT support.

Barnet Mayor Brian Schama and libraries portfolio holder Councillor Robert Rams thanked the group at the council’s offices in the North London Business Park in Oakleigh Road South.

The council recently extended the scheme with the Youth Offending Service to provide volunteering opportunities for young people on community service for low-level offences.