WORK has begun on restoring the fire-damaged Haslingden Library in a bid to get a reduced service up and running within the next two weeks.

The damage caused by a petrol bomb, being thrown through a window in the upstairs exhibition room of the building, on Sunday, will run into tens of thousands of pounds with the cost of replacing the lift alone costing £20,000.

Staff are currently taking all the books off the shelves to check how many need replacing and to find out what can be saved.

County library manager David Lightfoot, praised the efforts of the staff and fire service in preventing the damage being even more costly and said he was confident the library would soon be open to the public.

He said: "The building will be internally decorated because it's mostly the smell of smoke we are trying to get rid of.

"All the books throughout the library will have suffered some smoke damage and some water damage, but that was minimised by the actions of the fire brigade after the fire had been put out such as covering things up with plastic sheets.

"The books are sent to a specialised firm who preserve and restore the ones that can be and the others will be replaced, but we can borrow books from other libraries across the county for when we re-open.

"The main electrics and main heating system were not affected and, if wasn't for the person who called the fire service, who wants to remain anonymous, it could have been a disaster."

The reduced service is expected to open in the current children's section and learning centre. Work will then begin on the main lending library where a lot of water and smoke damage occurred and is underneath the exhibition room, which was gutted.

It will be approximately two months before the exhibition room is ready to re-open and a new lift will also have to be bought.

Mr Lightfoot said: "The staff have taken it very personally as it is a second home to them and they spend a lot of time here. They are now working extremely hard to pack up the books and get them sent away.

"The fire service were marvellous and very supportive afterwards."

County Councillor Bob Wilkinson, a former fire fighter, was given a tour of the building along with County Councillor Dorothy Westwell. Coun Wilkinson said: "I am appalled that someone wants to do this to any sort of building, especially a public building that serves the people of Haslingden.

"The speed of the fire service was marvellous not only in the way they dealt with the fire but in the salvage operations which have obviously saved a lot of money and will help speed up the time that library re-opens."

A 21-year-old man and 17-year-old youth were arrested in connection with the incident, but were released on police bail.