Residents, staff and teachers have hailed the new-look Blackbird Leys Library as a wonderful facility for the community.

The refurbished library, funded with £174,000 each from the Learning and Skills Council and Oxfordshire County Council, features a glass-fronted mezzanine floor with an office and an adult learning classroom.

There is also an IT suite, funded by the national People's Network programme for libraries.

The county's basic skills learning and resource centre has also moved into the building, on the corner of Cuddesdon Way and Blackbird Leys Road.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith, who cut the ribbon at the ceremony, said he hoped the centre would be used by everyone.

Mr Smith, who lives in Blackbird Leys, said: "It's not primarily for people who have great academic aspirations. This is about enriching everybody's lives."

Blackbird Leys resident Louise Louear, whose two-year-old daughter Menen approved of the library's stock of children's books, said: "I think it's wonderful and is needed for the community."

Schoolchildren from Pegasus School joined the celebrations by listening to stories from children's illustrator, Korky Paul.