Darlington'S mobile library will be replaced as a matter of priority, council chiefs will be told tomorrow.

A report published earlier this year revealed huge failings in Darlington's library provision, including a mobile library in disrepair that needed replacing at a cost of £130,000.

An update on library standards in the town will be presented to the borough council's cabinet tomorrow.

Geoff Pennington, the authority's director of education, said: "The mobile library is a cause of concern, and once a full appraisal of the best option for replacement is determined, this will be actioned."

He will recommend to the cabinet that the e-library, based in Crown Street, which the original report said may have to close, be developed to meet increased use.

The cabinet will be asked to note the recommendation in the original report that a new library be built in the north of the town.

Darlington's library provision compares badly with the rest of the Tees Valley, and the service fails to meet 13 of the 30 Public Library Standards laid down by the Government.

Mr Pennington said the standards themselves were under review and that the authority would assess its service again when the new standards were published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.