A WEST Devon charity bookshop last week received a donation of almost 1,000 books from the library of a much-loved South West TV personality.

Oxfam Bookshop in Tavistock received the influx of books from the the extensive library of architect David Young, who regularly made appearances on the ITV regional broadcasters Westward Television and Television South West.

David Young died a few years ago, and since then, the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), a charity based in Plymouth, has been busy sorting his personal library of roughly 2,000 books.

SWFTA donated nearly half of the books to the bookshop in North Street, as part of Oxfam's Bookfest event which started last week and finishes on July 17.

Jennie Constable, administrator at SWFTA, said: 'David Young was a much-loved local personality and I'm sure he would be very pleased to know his books are going to a good cause.

'We've given about 1,000 books to Oxfam and the other books will go to specialist dealers who will give money to SWFTA for them, so all the books will be of good use.'

Jackie Theobald, manager at Oxfam Bookshop, was really pleased with the donation.

She said: 'We think it's a lovely gift. It is so nice when the community supports us so we can help support other communities. This is the kind of gift that gives twice — the customer is happy they've bought a nice book and the charity gets money.'

A big appeal that Oxfam is supporting at the moment is the West African Food Crisis Appeal for the Niger.

Jackie said the books are sold on average for £2.99 each, which buys 30 cassava cuttings. The cassava leaves can be pounded, boiled and eaten with a thick maize porridge.

She said: 'Everything in the book shop is used in some way to make money.

'Any books that we can't sell get recycled, so nothing goes to the landfills.'

Bookfest, the 'page-turning, poverty-busting, book-hugging celebration', is a national Oxfam event with different shops hosting a variety of activities. Due to the lack of space in the Tavistock bookshop, instead of holding an event, they have focused on getting books into the shop for the festival.

The Oxfam Bookshop is currently seeking volunteers to donate as much or as little time as they can.

Anyone interested in volunteering, please contact Jackie on 01822 613901.