THE cost of keeping a library book for too long in Lancashire could rise as the number of fines rockets.

Almost £300,000 worth of fines was collected by Lancashire county council libraries last year.

And the problem with people not bringing back their borrowed books is getting worse.

At this year's budget fines were increased from 10p to 11p per day per book.

But it has become so bad that Coun Chris Cheetham, cabinet member for adult and community services, has warned the cost of late library books could become even more expensive.

According to statistics from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, the amount of overdue fines per 1,000 people in Lancashire is 248 - compared to 234 in 1999/2000.

But Coun Cheetham said: "Unfortunately this is depriving people who are wanting to take out books. I don't know what we could do other than ramp up the cost of library fines but we would have to think about that carefully."

In Blackburn and Darwen the figure stands at 236.

But Susan Law, Head of Library and Information Service at Blackburn and Darwen Council, was unconcerned by the amount.

She said: "The borough libraries are used by a large number of residents and the majority are prompt with returns." Only four of the 37 county library services across the country charge less than Lancashire County Council for the late return of books.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "Fines are regarded as a mixed blessing at best within libraries. Many feel that potential users are put off by the charge, but no-one has invented an alternative method of encouraging some users to return their books.

"The important thing to remember is that no-one has to pay fines. Just by bringing books back on time, or else by renewing them at the library, by phone, by email or on-line, there will be no fines at all."