Cambridge University library book returned 60 years late Published duration 26 September 2019

image copyright Cambridge University Library

A library book has been returned to a university 60 years late.

The somewhat battered book, Cultures and Societies of Africa, had been borrowed from Cambridge University Library.

The library promised to waive the fine, which based on today's rate of £1.50 a week would total almost £4,700.

It was returned to Gonville and Caius College by a former student on Wednesday and taken to the main university library.

In a tweet, the library wrote: "Better late than never", adding "suffice to say we waived the fine".

"Must have been a great book - or a very slow reader?" they added.

A spokesman said it was not clear whether the student had kept the book for so long "mistakenly or deliberately".

However, it was still listed on the library's system as missing.