BOLTON’S third selfservice book collection point has opened after another axed library closed its doors.

The neighbourhood collection opened at Tonge UCAN Centre yesterday, following the closure of Castle Hill library.

A fourth library, Heaton, will close this Friday.

Highfield, Oxford Grove and Castle Hill libraries have now each been replaced with a collection point.

Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris said: “Both Halliwell and Tonge UCAN are established focal points for the local community. By locating the neighbourhood collection points in these buildings, there is real scope to develop community involvement even further.”

Heaton will be left without any library facilities for two weeks, when its library closes for the final time on Friday.

The corresponding neighbourhood collection will not open until March 26, breaking a pledge Bolton Council made last year to ensure the collection points would be up and running before any library closed.

Council bosses said the delay was so construction work could take place.

The building will be split into three, with a children’s centre, the collection point, and a community space.

Astley Bridge Library will be the final library to shut its doors as Bolton strives to save £200,000 a year from its budget.

The new-style service enables people to borrow books via a self-service machine and computers will offer internet access.

The neighbourhood collections will be open to the public during UCAN opening hours, plus Saturday mornings at Halliwell, from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

After April 1, Halliwell’s hours will increase further to also include three evenings until 6pm