Ten libraries in Bury are set to close their doors for the final time on December 20.

It comes after cash-strapped council chiefs voted to shut more than two-thirds of the town’s 14 branches earlier this year.

Speaking when the closures were announced in June council leader Rishi Shori said: “Finances are an issue and the council has been under huge pressure to save money, particularly due to the rising costs of social care.”

The libraries set to close are Ainsworth, Brandlesholme, Castle Leisure Centre, Coronation Road, Dumers Lane, Moorside, Topping Fold, Tottington, Unsworth and Whitefield.

(Image: Google)

Bury, Radcliffe, Ramsbottom and Prestwich libraries will remain open.

Library members today (Friday) received an email announcing when the closures would take place.

It read: “Sadly, the 10 libraries scheduled for closure following the Library Review will be shutting their doors for the last time on December 20th.

“Bury, Prestwich, Radcliffe and Ramsbottom libraries will be continuing to provide library, leisure and learning opportunities across the borough, although opening hours will change from January 3rd.

“Staff at all libraries would like to thank you for all your support during this difficult period. Please look out for information regarding new community uses for some of the former library buildings.”

(Image: Paul Anderson/ geograph)

In September Bury council was ridiculed when it posted a tweet asking ‘could you turn a former library into a valued community asset?’.

Perhaps unsurprisingly the authority came in for a torrent of online sarcasm.

Asam Yasin was first to reply tweeting: “A book shop. One that lets you take books for free for a period of time as long as you return them. With a fee if you don’t.”

@adlynch replied saying: ‘is that a library, Asam?’, to which came the response - “No no. It’s a shop. If you call it a library they’ll only close it down again...”

Prestwich library will also close on Saturdays from May 2018.

For details on the new opening hours at the four remaining branches visit bury.gov.uk .