ESSEX County Council has been forced to close a library after discovering it contains collapse-risk concrete.

County Hall bosses announced the temporary closure of Hatfield Peverel Library with immediate effect.

Arts, heritage and culture boss Mark Durham said the authority had no choice but to temporarily close the library, in The Street, following surveys and guidance from the Department for Education regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac).

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He added: “The library has known Raac and already has mitigations in place.

“However, following a visit this week by our property team, we have made the decision to close the site as a precaution while further surveys are conducted, and potential additional mitigations added.

“At present, and based on existing survey data, there is nothing to indicate that Raac is present in any of our other 73 libraries.

"However, we are currently undertaking a review of all our properties and will act accordingly if any mitigation is required.

“We will look to reopen Hatfield Peverel Library as soon as possible. Updates will be posted on the Essex Library Service social media channels and signs will be placed at the front of the building.”

Raac is a lightweight building material which is prone to collapse and was used widely in public buildings between the 1950s and 1990s.