LONDON COLNEY: Forget about book libraries and toy libraries – village gardeners now have a chance to enjoy a tool library.

Gardeners at London Colney allotments have been given the chance to share costly tools thanks to the parish council.

Owners of a range of implements from lawnmowers to rakes and spades can now store their tools safely in locked parish council sheds at the village allotments – or borrow tools from green-fingered colleagues rather than all buying and owning the same expensive tools.

Labour parish councillor Ian Orton said: “The tool library means that the allotments will work as something of a co-operative venture, with gardeners helping to create a more sustainable community, rather than all buying and running costly items which you do not use all the time.”

He hoped the move would help people through difficult economic times and put an end to a recent spate of break-ins and vandalism at the allotments.

Cllr Jacob Quagliozzi (pictured) added: “I hope this will be the first of a number of similar shared ventures, such as a toy library at the parish centre, which will bring the community together and encourage a more sustainable lifestyle.”