LIBRARIES in north Lancashire could be axed as part of huge cost-cutting measures announced this week.

Budget proposals show how Lancashire County Council plans to save £65m over the next two years, resulting in the loss of an estimated 367 full time jobs.

The authority said by slashing its library portfolio from 74 to 34 it could save £7m a year.

Those at risk include Carnforth, Bolton-le-Sands, Silverdale and Halton.

The council said one single static library in each of its 12 district council areas would meet its statutory obligations - but added it plans to provide 34 neighbourhood centres across the county.

These will house libraries, youth zones, adult disability and children's centres and child and parenting support centres.

A consultation period will launch in January and the final decision will be made in February.

No library has yet been identified for closure.

Funding for all subsidised bus services is also being proposed to be cut to save £7.5m per year, affecting 59 routes, and the highways budget will be reduced by £2.8m.

Jennifer Mein, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: "The scale of the challenge means that we will have to make ever more difficult decisions. We will do all that we can, and are targeting our resources towards those with the greatest need, but we will have to reduce or stop services and people will notice the difference.

"Our priority will remain to protect the most vulnerable people in communities across Lancashire.

"These are the most challenging times for local government in living memory as we face the combination of relentless central government cuts and rising demand for our services, particularly those serving vulnerable people.

The job losses would be on top of 1,100 staff who have already left the authority, having taken voluntary redundancy since January 2014.

The proposals come as the council needs to save an additional £262m by April 2020, to battle a funding gap caused by reductions in central government funding.