SURREY County Council is to reduce the opening hours of Farnham library in its latest cost-cutting exercise.

From September 5, the library in West Street will open half an hour later at 9.30am from Monday to Saturday. Closing times will remain unchanged, and the library will still close on Sundays.

The same cut applies to all larger libraries across Surrey, with services in smaller communities to also close for an hour at lunchtimes.

Across the county, the number of hours libraries are open will decrease by seven per cent which the council says will save taxpayers £250,000 a year.

A council spokesman said: “Increased demand for essential services, coupled with reduced government funding, means Surrey County Council needs to cut its spending in other areas.

“So from September 5, opening hours across all the libraries run by the council will be slightly reduced. These changes will be at the quietest times to cause the minimum inconvenience to library users.”

The spokesman added the reductions will have a “minimal” impact on staff, and the “quality and range of services” at Surrey’s libraries will be retained.