LIBRARY fines are being increased from 10p to 12p a day as part of charge increases for arts, libraries and museums services agreed by Durham County Council.

The maximum charge for an overdue book will rise from £6 to £7.20 from the new financial year in April. The daily fine of 5p a day for pensioners and children will not change.

The cost of reserving a book not kept by the county library department will rise from £2 to £2.50 ( from £1 to £1.25 for pensioners and children).

The cost of borrowing a CD for a week will rise from 65p to 80p, and £1.65 to £2 for three discs.

Videotape loan charges will rise from 60p, £1.10 and £1.60 to 75p, £1.25 or £2 for three days.

Admission charges to the DLI museum and The North of England Lead Mining Museum, at Killhope, Weardale, are unchanged, but the cost of admission to Binchester Roman Fort, near Bishop Auckland, will increase by 10p to £1.60 for adults and from 75p to 80p for concessions.

Hire charges for Bishop Auckland Town Hall are also to rise, including a 50p increase to £12 an hour for use of a general room in the town hall's Eden Theatre.