Bookworms in Essex are being treated to one of the best library services in the country, it has been revealed.

And almost half the people living in county used their library cards last year. Statistics presented to the county's library committee showed:

Essex loans more books more cheaply than virtually any other service in the country.

Cash spent on administrative costs is a third lower than similar counties.

More people are making library information inquiries.

Stephen Robinson, chairman of the committee, said: "These figures show that Essex libraries are on the right track".

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