FURTHER work will be needed on a town centre library despite £150,000 of repairs to make its foyer safe.

The refurbishment of Darlington Crown Street Library has been completed.

The main entrance and foyer were closed after water damage caused by leaks in the glass roof made it unsafe.

After a number of delays, the work was finally completed in April but in a report, which will be considered by Darlington Borough Council's planning committee on Wednesday, listed building consent is being sought to fit steel bracing and supports to the southern gable wall of the library.

A Darlington Council spokeswoman said that the work was not being proposed in the foyer but near to the TK Maxx building.

She said: "Part of the brick- work, which stands up in the roof, needs to be strengthened.

"We do not plan to close the library further or affect its services."

If the application is given consent, it will be referred to Government Office for the North East for a decision.

The foyer and main entrance were closed as staff were no longer able to work in the administrative office, because the plasterwork was badly damaged and pieces were falling off the walls and ceiling.

The floor of the foyer of the 120-year-old listed Victorian building was also badly damaged and needed replacing.

The refurbishment was due to be completed in December last year.

However, as work got under way last October to refurbish the north end of the building, workers unearthed the remains of another historic relic.

As the original floor was removed, the remains of Pease's Mill race were found underneath, which delayed the refurbishment, while experts were called in to ensure the find was properly documented.

Once they got the go-ahead to replace the floor on top of the mill race, a new way of reinforcing the floor was found to accommodate the wooden structure beneath.

The foyer will be used by Community and Adult Learning to give information and take enrolments on courses.

The community room is available for teaching, meetings and reading groups.

Councillor Lee Vasey, cabinet member for leisure services, said:

"Although this refurbishment has taken longer than expected, due to a variety of unforeseen circumstances, the finished results are well worth the wait."