A LIBRARY home delivery service has been expanded to help housebound people.

Hartlepool librarians are hoping that elderly or ill people will be able to take advantage of the service.

The Home Library Service has 300 regular users but Hartlepool Borough Council is hoping the number will rise to 420 in the coming year.

Eileen Tourret, libraries social inclusion officer, said: "Our books and other products can offer a great deal of comfort to people who face spending long hours confined to their homes and this service recognises that.

"We will select and deliver items to people in their own homes on a three-weekly basis.

"To qualify for the service people must be unable to get to their local library due to advancing years, ill health or a combination of these factors. Anyone over the age of 80 is automatically eligible.

"If you've ever chosen library books for such a person you will know how difficult and time consuming it can be. The Home Library Service aims to take the strain."

The library service offers books, audio spoken word products, sub-titled videos and audio described videos for people who are deaf or visually impaired.

The items can be taken on a temporary or permanent basis, for example, if someone only requires deliveries during winter or a period of convalescence.

The drive to market the service follows the signing of an agreement with the Government that will result in additional funding if targets are met.

Ms Tourret said: "We have never been able to develop the service beyond a certain point due to a lack of resources but we know that there are people out there who would benefit from its expansion."

Anyone wanting to register for the Home Library Service is asked to contact Ms Tourret on (01429) 523614.