THE council is to spend £30,000 repairing windows at Darwen Library, with work set to start later this month.

Bosses at Blackburn with Darwen Council announced last year that work would be carried out in a bid to make the library watertight.

Concerns had been raised in the wake of the floods in the town that water could get into the Knott Street building and damage books.

And after the first part of scaffolding was erected outside the building on Tuesday, the window repair work is scheduled to begin on April 22.

More scaffolding is to be put up on Tuesday next week as the library is closed on that day every week.

The library will then close for the day on Thursday for scaffolding to be erected inside the building.

The work will start on the following Monday and last for between six and eight weeks. Workmen will repair some of the original windows in the building, as well as replacing windows fitted into the dome of the atrium. The library will be open as normal and access to the toilet and exhibition area will be maintained.

The council’s libraries chief, Coun Damian Talbot, said: “I am happy to see that the appropriate repair works will be undertaken on one of the borough’s treasured historic buildings.

“Residents can be assured that disruption will be kept to a minimum and business will run as normal.”

Treasurer of the Friends of Darwen Library Pat Hancock said the group was delighted the work was being done.

She said: “We are very pleased that the council is to repair the windows at Darwen Library.

“It is one of Darwen’s finest buildings and it is great that this work is finally getting under way.”