Library to get £1.5m funding to fix leaky roof

The library in Bridgwater is a listed building and was opened in 1906

A listed library building is getting up to £1.5m of council funding to help improve a leaky roof.

Bridgwater Library, by Blake Gardens, has been open in the Somerset town since 1906 but staff have lately been using buckets to stop damage to the books.

Councillor Mike Rigby, Lib Dem lead member for assets at Somerset Council said: "This work will make the building watertight and weatherproof - as what good is a library if it's full of water?"

The work is expected to start in the next month.

Refurbishing the entire library site had been proposed but there was insufficient capital funding from the council.

Mr Rigby continued: "This funding of up to £1.5m is coming out of a pot of money we put in place to look after our listed assets.

"There will be some impact with services during the work but we're keeping the library open throughout."