A £180,000 library will bring more than just books to an east Durham community.

The building, which is earmarked for Wingate, will form part of a village complex, designed to bring a package of facilities to residents.

Work on the library, which will be built alongside a new community centre, is due to start at the turn of the year.

It is hoped that both buildings will be completed by late spring or early summer next year.

Durham County Council's director of arts, libraries and museums, Patrick Conway, revealed that the existing library in Wingate, which is housed in leased accommodation, needed urgent repairs.

"In addition to being purpose-built, its replacement will be considerably bigger, and will offer a wide range of services, which support both community and personal development,'' he said.

As well as the traditional book lending service and provision of reference material, the library will offer the use of computers, with free Internet access.

There will also be the opportunity to contribute to the Wingate web pages on the county council's website.

Those using the library will be able to take advantage of open learning opportunities.

They will also have access to an electronic catalogue, allowing them to view records of library material on loan throughout the county.

There will be facilities for events, displays, exhibitions, and a photocopying service.

A programme of essential repairs has been drawn up to keep the existing library open until its replacement is built.

Wingate county councillor Len O'Donnell predicted the new library would become a "tremendous asset.''

"Libraries are a key hub of a community and the replacement building, with its additional services will be a welcome development,'' he said.