Surrey library borrowers owe £700,000 in unpaid fines

Surrey County Council is owed more than £700,000 in unpaid library fines.

The Conservative-controlled local authority said the problem of outstanding fines was a "thorn in the side of librarians".

The council is currently proposing to devolve the running of 11 libraries to the community to save money.

Gillian Woods, a campaigner from the save Warlingham Library Group, said the council should introduce a more efficient reminding system.

A council spokeswoman said: "The problem of unpaid library fines is a thorn in the side of librarians up and down the country.

"Although the combined fines add up to a lot of money, each individual only owes a few pounds or pence."