A KIND gesture will open a new chapter of life for cramped Blandford library by paying for a mini-makeover, while county chiefs wait to see if their Lottery bid is successful.

A £5,000 bequest from a customer will be used to install a new service counter at the entrance to the library giving it a more up-to-date appearance and make better use of the limited space.

Library chiefs are desperate to replace the library, currently housed at The Tabernacle, and have submitted a £1.9m Lottery bid to build new facilities which could also house a tourist information centre, a learning resource area and public toilets.

But thanks to the anonymous bequest, interim work to improve the existing library can be carried out immediately.

However, for the work to be done the library will have to be closed between April 24 and 28 because the revamp will take place at the entrance.

"We are very grateful for this kind gesture to improve the library service for Blandford residents," said David Crowhurst, cabinet member for adult and community services.

"We have an opportunity through the Big Lottery Fund's Community Libraries Programme to fund one new library in the county, and we have nominated Blandford."

He says West Street is being earmarked for the new library.

Director of adult and community services, Steve Pitt, said: "There is no guarantee that we will get the funding, but we want to take every opportunity we can to develop libraries in Dorset, and to obtain good value for money for the community."

The council says it should know by September whether its bid has been successful.

If given the cash, the new library would be more than double the size of the existing one.

The existing library is due to reopen on April 30.