THE volunteers at the Bude Toy Library just love showing people around and surprising them with the sheer number and diversity of toys they have available to borrow.

It is even nicer when they can personally say ‘thank you’ when a generous grant enables them to buy lovely new toys they could not otherwise afford to lend to people who could not afford to buy them either.

Cornwall Councillor for Bude David Parsons responded to the toy library’s bid with a brilliant grant through the Cornwall Community Chest, which has enabled the purchase a range of new toys, which includes two DidiCars, a car baby walker/rocker, a Bosch workbench and many toys regarded as STEM — stimulating early development in science, technology, engineering and mathematics — which are such fun.

They are also out of the reach of parents normally as they are expensive and may have a limited shelf life in a child’s development.

Following a tour of the library and the outside store room which houses larger toys, most of which can be hired for parties too, Cllr Parsons said: “It was great to visit the Bude Toy Library and see the range of toys on offer. Toys are really important as children develop but they are often expensive and only used for a short time. The Toy Library means children can choose the right toy for them and then try something else without huge cost.

“The Cornwall Council Communty Grant funds means all councillors can make small grants to worthwhile projects each year. I would like to thank the Toy Library volunteers. People like this work hard and make Bude the special place it is.”

The library is housed at the Neetside Community Centre, a buzz focus for many organisations, and open on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

As membership is only £20 a year and enables members to borrow up to five toys for two weeks at a time, it is really work having a look too. Search the group on Facebook for further information.