A NATIONAL Trust property that fell victim to extreme flooding is appealing for your preloved page turners as it prepares to open a brand-new second-hand bookshop.

The Old Works Library at Aberdulais Tinworks and Waterfall - fondly referred to as The Owl - felt the brunt of the devastation; the National Trust had only recently completed a restoration project to convert the Grade II listed building into a community book shop when the flood warning was announced.

Within minutes the river Dulais had broken its banks and water went rushing through the industrial heritage site and into the stone buildings where shelves were stacked with donated books ready for the official opening of The Owl which was scheduled later that day.

Sophie Thomas of National Trust said: “Water had risen above the window sills and there were books floating upon the surface”.

But the flood wasn’t going to dampen the spirits of a merry band of volunteers and staff who immediately got to work to salvage as much as possible.

“The team have worked incredibly hard to get The OWL ready to open in time for World Book Day”, said Sophie.

“It was a fantastic effort by all, and we want to say a huge thank you to all our supporters for their kind offers of help and for the replacement book donations we’ve received so far.

“We’re really excited about the grand opening of the The OWL on World Book Day. It will be great to see the building that was once a library for the tin works being used for the same purpose once again, albeit in slightly different circumstances."

The grand opening of The Old Works Library will be held at National Trust Aberdulais on World Book Day, March 5, from 12 noon. Author Emily Hancox will be performing a reading of her latest book, The Ballerina and all visitors are encouraged to dress up as their favourite literary character if they so wish.