Rishton Library has been vandalised yet again as the rampage of anti-social behaviour continues.

On Thursday night, September 12, the library had its windows smashed, as well as the doors, just weeks after reports were made that librarians had faced abuse by a group of young people.

Windows had also been smashed previously and workers at the library, on High Street, said they had to make numerous complaints across several months after persistent disturbances.

Security staff had been introduced at the start of July to protect staff members, but vandalism continues to occur overnight.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "We took the decision to close Rishton Library following an act of criminal damage that occurred overnight.

"The police have been informed.

"The nearest open libraries are Accrington, Great Harwood and Oswaldtwistle.

"Further updates will be added to our public web pages in due course."

In 2017, council chiefs overturned a decision to make the building ‘surplus to requirements’ ending two years of uncertainty over its fate.

A petition to save Rishton Library attracted hundreds of supporters and ultimately persuaded the council to reopen it with pressure to find volunteers.  

These disturbances have put the library under threat with thousands of pounds worth of repairs needed almost every week.

Cllr Peter Buckley, cabinet member for community and cultural services, Lancashire County Council, said at the start of the month: “Unfortunately, Rishton Library has been subject to a campaign of anti-social behaviour and criminality over several months.

"We want to make clear that we will not tolerate assaults, physical or verbal, against our staff and no amount of anti-social behaviour against our library staff or the building.

"We are working actively with the police and targeted youth services to manage the situation at Rishton Library.

"We are also continuing to support our staff, who should never have to deal with this sort of behaviour."

In 2022 the council released its libraries strategy and aimed to encourage more community cohesion.