IS this Britain's worst library? Situated at the back of a kitchen and featuring two trolleys with less than 200 books and a photocopier, it's hardly a rival to Manchester's famous John Rylands.

But the `temporary resource' is currently serving the public of south Chadderton, in Oldham.

The library, at Turf Lane Community Centre, had its less than grand opening this week.

Oldham council said it was installed to `reduce the impact on service users' after nearby Broadway Library closed on Friday.

John McCann, the town's community services boss, has admitted the change `may cause inconvenience'.

But opposition councillors and residents have reacted with anger and say the new facility brings `shame' on the authority.

Oldham council initially refused to let the M.E.N inside the building to take pictures, but had a change of heart after we said we would expose the lack of facilities anyway.

And Coun Dave Hibbert, whose ward includes both libraries, has labelled the replacement a `shambles'.

He said: "It's an absolute disgrace. They are clearly ashamed of themselves. They've replaced a good library that served over 50,000 last year with the corner of a kitchen.

"Two schools used the Broadway library regularly. It had seven computers and was valued by everyone who lives near there.

"This just shows that the council has treated the people of Chadderton with utter contempt."

Coun Hibbert resigned as chair of a cultural steering group in protest at the move. He says the group has not been consulted in any of the decision-making.

South Chadderton resident Warren Hearder, 43, also slammed the change.

He said: "This is complete sacrilege. We've just been turned over. They've closed a perfectly good library and replaced it with nothing."

Town hall bosses say the facility is only a temporary measure until May 28 when the library will be given its own room at the community centre with more books on offer.

But Coun Hibbert says that is `not good enough'.

He added: "I've seen bigger box rooms than the one it's moving to."

Coun McCann says the long-term plan is to redevelop Broadway library.

He believes a new £5m `health and wellbeing centre' with a library facility that is due to open in Chadderton in the autumn will improve the situation.

But it would appear the book-reading public's misery does not end there. In July the community centre is due to close for two weeks while maintenance work is carried out.