A book exchange inside a refurbished red telephone box has already become the 'focal point' of a coastal village. 

On Tuesday morning (February 21), a small crowd braved the chilly weather to enjoy the official opening of a new lending library and information point at the corner of Beach Road and Beach Drive in Scratby.

Local award-winning author Heather Peck cut the ribbon around the old phone box.

Eastern Daily Press: Award-winning author Heather Peck opening a book exchange in Scratby on February 21. Picture: Sonya Duncan. Award-winning author Heather Peck opening a book exchange in Scratby on February 21. Picture: Sonya Duncan. (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Ms Peck, who lives in Ormesby St Margaret and writes crime novels set in Norfolk, donated her four novels and a novella to the exchange. 

Scratby parish councillors Peter Holley and Kathryn Wendt were behind the project, which was funded by a £7,000 grant from the National Lottery community fund.

Eastern Daily Press: Peter Holley, Kathryn Wendt and Heather Peck at the official opening of Scratby's new book exchange. Picture: Sonya Duncan. Peter Holley, Kathryn Wendt and Heather Peck at the official opening of Scratby's new book exchange. Picture: Sonya Duncan. (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Ms Wendt said: "It will mean a lot for the village. The nearest library is in Yarmouth.

"Already a lot of people have been coming along, bringing books and taking books out to read.

"It's a real focal point for the village," she added.

Eastern Daily Press: A book exchange and information point in a refurbished telephone box has become a 'focal point' for the village of Scratby. Picture: Sonya Duncan. A book exchange and information point in a refurbished telephone box has become a 'focal point' for the village of Scratby. Picture: Sonya Duncan. (Image: Sonya Duncan)

There are benches each side of the phone box, where people can sit and have a chat. 

The next step will see the installation of a planter.

Earlier this month, the converted phone box was lifted by a crane into its new home after an 18-month project to give the box a fresh community purpose.

As well as books to burrow the box holds information on what is going on in the parish, such as events and meetings.

Eastern Daily Press: Heather Peck, who writes crime novels set in Norfolk, at the opening of a book exchange in Scratby. Picture: Sonya Duncan. Heather Peck, who writes crime novels set in Norfolk, at the opening of a book exchange in Scratby. Picture: Sonya Duncan. (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Ms Peck's first novel, Secret Places, introduced police detective Greg Geldard and a crime which took him from Yorkshire to the Norfolk Broads.

The former civil servant with the Ministry of Agriculture has written two more in the series, one of which, Glass Arrows, was shortlisted for the 2021 East Anglian Book Awards fiction prize.