The opening times of libraries across the Bay are to change from Monday 2 July. The changes are being introduced as part of the council's ongoing budget pressures and have been carried out following extensive consultation with library customers.

From Monday 2 July the following opening hours will come into effect: Brixham Library: Mon 9.30am – 5pm Tue 9.30am – 6pm Wed 9.30am – 1pm Thur 9.30am - 5pm Fri 9.30am - 1pm Sat 9.30am - 1pm.

Churston Library. Mon 9.30am - 5pm Tue 9.30am – 1pm Wed 9.30am – 1pm Thur 9.30am – 6pm Fri 9.30am – 5pm Sat 9.30am – 1pm.

Paignton Library. Mon 9.30am – 5pm Tue 9.30am – 6pm Wed 9.30am – 1pm Thur 9.30am – 6pm Fri 9.30am – 5pm Sat 9.30am – 4pm.

Torquay Library Mon 9.30am – 6pm Tue 9.30am – 1pm Wed 9.30am – 6pm Thur 9.30am – 1pm Fri 9.30am – 6pm Sat 9.30am – 4pm.

Executive Lead for Arts and Culture, which also includes Torbay's Library Service, Cllr Dave Butt, said: "We know how important libraries are to our local residents and with unprecedented budget pressures we are having to explore ways we can continue to run the service in the face of such cuts.

"Unfortunately doing nothing is not an option and following consultation with our library users we have taken the decision to reduce the opening hours at each of the libraries.

"I'd like to thank everyone who got involved in the consultation. Our residents' views are really important to us and are helping to shape the future of our libraries.

"Moving forward I will be looking to have a meeting with all the Friend's Groups to jointly explore ways to protect the service in the next few years. We will be faced with further budget cuts and only by seeking innovative ways of working will we be able to continue offering such a quality service and this will be crucial for the future."