ABUSIVE youths threatening council staff have forced Shipley Library to shut its doors two hours early each weekday night.

Shipley councillor Martin Love said the problems with anti-social behaviour had driven Bradford Council bosses to make the decision to shut the library’s doors at 5pm Monday to Friday instead of at 7pm meaning library users are losing ten hours access a week.

Coun Love said security staff had been put on the doors but even their presence had failed to put off the unruly youths whose behaviour has been reported to the police and the youth service.

He said: “We were told they were shutting early because of the anti-social behaviour of a group of youths who were abusing staff but they were going to review it at the end of January. They also said it would not have too much of an impact on people because it was winter and user numbers were low.

“Staff were being abused and it was happening at the same time on a night. It’s very, very sad that this sort of behaviour is occurring and it’s impacting on innocent people who want to use the library in the evening. I just hope shutting early for a while will deter those causing trouble.”

A Bradford Council spokesperson said the decision to close earlier at Shipley and also at Bingley Library in the Five Rise Shopping Centre was taken by officers in consultation with councillors. “An increase in anti social behaviour around Shipley and Bingley Libraries on an evening and fewer visitors in the winter have led to the decision being taken in the short-term. We are working with partners to find a solution to the problem and the opening hours will be reviewed four weeks after the start date of December 20. Users have been notified by front line staff, notices in libraries and on the web pages and staffing rotas adjusted accordingly.”

A police spokesman said: “Police have received a number of recent calls for service from Shipley Library and cautions and notices have been issued to youths and some adults for instances of anti-social behaviour.

“Local officers from the Shipley team are working with partner agencies to see what further action can be taken.”

The library, that first opened in 1985 and underwent a six-month refurbishment one year ago, is one of the district’s best used, totting up 78,684 visitors in 2015-2016 making use of its 31,000 plus books and free internet service.

As well as books, audio tapes and computers, it runs reading groups, taster sessions for IT and offers up room space for community organisations and clubs, some of who have evening meetings.

Many libraries across the district have now moved to a volunteer-run model, including those at Addingham, Denholme, Wilsden, Wrose, Idle, Allerton and Queensbury.

Others at Burley, Holme Wood, Great Horton, Bolling, Silsden, Thornbury and Thornton have also remained open thanks to volunteers but Shipley is still entirely manned by paid staff.