THE very last mobile library visit to Zeal Monachorum took place on Friday, February 2.

Local resident Erica Eden explained that the majority of the regular borrowers turned up on the day to say thank you and goodbye to the Librarian and the service which had been coming to the village for at least 50 years, and probably much longer.

She continued: “Over time the community successfully resisted its two stops being cut to one, giving a reprieve on that front for a few more years; then the visits were reduced from fortnightly to monthly.

“Finally the County Council decided it could not afford to replace the ageing vehicles and by the end of February visits will stop to all rural communities in Devon.

“The sadness on the mobile library was palpable as people borrowed books for the last time, which will have to be returned to a library in Crediton.”