Delivery of new Highland mobile libraries delayed

High Life Highland's new vans had originally been due to come into service in the summer

The delivery of two mobile libraries to serve some of the Highlands' most rural communities has been delayed.

Highland Council paid £332,000 earlier this year for the new vans, which will go to areas where people do not have easy access to a traditional library.

The vans had been expected to come into service this summer, but High Life Highland (HLH), which runs library services, and Highland Council said they were now not likely to be ready until winter.

They said global supply chain issues were behind the delays, but added efforts were ongoing to speed up their manufacturer and get the vehicles delivered as soon as possible.

The vans have been purchased to serve communities across the north and west of the region.

These areas have been relying on a temporary delivery service.

HLH head of libraries Julie Corcoran said the organisation shared the "disappointment and frustration" of customers at the delay.

Chief executive Steve Walsh previously said library services across Scotland were under pressure.

He said he hoped the provision of the vans would reassure communities that the council and HLH were committed to investing and future-proofing the Highland service.