OPENING times at Borehamwood Library will be slashed by almost 40 per cent today as part of Hertfordshire-wide reductions.

The Elstree Way library will now be closed on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, completely shut on Fridays, and open until 7pm on weekdays, instead of 8pm previously.

The county council say the cuts are necessary as it faces “extreme financial pressures” following the Government's comprehensive spending review in October 2010.

Councillor Chris Hayward, executive member for libraries, said: "While we are reducing opening hours to save money in the current challenging economic climate, it is important to stress that unlike many other local authorities, we are not closing any libraries.

"We will continue to provide the full range of library services. Activities such as baby rhyme times, homework clubs, computer taster sessions and the popular summer reading challenge will be rearranged around the new opening hours, and 24-hour access to our online reference library will still be available to library members."

Anti-cuts campaigners argue Borehamwood has been hit harder than other areas, and with a history of deprivation and problems of literacy among young people, it should be an exception to the countywide reductions.