By Saul Cooke-Black

AN EIGHT foot mural representing the life of the much-loved author Laurie Lee will be unveiled at Stroud Library on Thursday.

The 8ft by 6ft painting, produced by students from South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, includes images from some of the writer's most well-known works works including Cider with Rosie and As I Walked Out.

At the unveiling ceremony, Stroud poet Adam Horovitz will join Laurie's daughter, Jessy Lee, to read extracts from the author's books.

It was made last year to celebrate 100 years since Lee's birth in 1914 as part of a national programme celebrating his life.

As well as welcoming the mural to its new home at the library, the event also welcomes the county’s ‘Village Agents’ to the new location for their monthly drop-in sessions.

County councillor Andrew Gravells, cabinet member for libraries, said: "Laurie Lee’s connections to the county are very well known, particularly in the Stroud area, so it’s great to see the mural coming home.

"I am also pleased our library facilities can provide a welcoming location for our Village Agents to meet."

The ‘Village and Community Agent’ scheme was set up in 2007 to provide a signposting and support service for older people in rural villages in Gloucestershire.

It started as a pilot scheme and has continued to grow in success and now covers urban areas such as Stroud, Tewkesbury, Cirencester, Gloucester and Cheltenham.

Drop-in sessions are held on the third Thursday of each month at Stroud Library between 10.30am and 12.30pm.