HEREFORDSHIRE Council says it is no closer to knowing when the city's library will re-open.

The Broad Street library and museum has been shut since the discovery of traces of asbestos on September 11.

At the time, the council said it would be closed for an "initial 12-week period" while remedial works and improvements were carried out.

But the authority has said this week said that the removal of the asbestos has yet to begin, adding it has no completion date.

"The safety of users and staff of the services is our most important consideration, and the implications of managing asbestos at the building needs to be carefully considered," the council said on its website.

"As traces of asbestos have been found at the venue, it is in the best safety interest to remove it completely, which will be started as soon as possible.

"As yet we have not been given a date as to when those works will be completed."

In the meantime, a temporary library is planned for Hereford Town Hall, while it says Belmont Library has seen "a considerable increase" in use, along with a drop-off at Hereford Shirehall.

Options for temporary relocating the museum and arts gallery are also being explored.

"Herefordshire Council would like to thank the public for their patience whilst it reviews the position relating to the unexpected discovery of asbestos at Hereford Library," the council added.

"In addition to the public use PCs at Belmont library there are also public access PCs available at the new HARC building at Rotherwas and at the Courtyard, which are free to use.

"We will provide further updates on the library as soon as we have them."

The council says the risk to the public from this asbestos discovery is "minimal" but advises anyone with health concerns to contact their GP.