OFFICIALS at Darlington Library have been criticised for closing one of its entrances, trapping a mother and her pram inside.

Mother-of-two Anna Cox was at Darlington's Crown Street library yesterday when she found herself trapped.

She had been helped up the library's main stairs with her pram by a passer-by, but decided to leave by the Art Gallery entrance, which is easier to negotiate without assistance.

But Ms Cox found the entrance locked, and when she asked a librarian to help her back down the main stairs she was told the council's insurance did not cover her for providing assistance.

Ms Cox said: "I was basically stuck in the library with no way out.

"It just seems a little bit ludicrous you can't get in and out of the library with a pram or if you have a disability.

"It is not the easiest access at the best of times, but it was made impossible.

"Eventually the librarian helped, but she made it clear she shouldn't have been."

A council spokesman explained that the Art Gallery entrance was always shut when an exhibition was being displayed or paintings taken down.

He said: "If we have paintings lying around there is the security aspect of someone coming in and stealing them.

"There is also health and safety element of people tripping up on things left on the floor.

"It is true that the stairs at that end of the building are quite shallow and are more accessible, but we do not have a designated disabled entrance.

"We do suggest our staff use common-sense and, while the entrance isn't wheelchair-accessible, pushchairs and prams can be lifted in.