The county’s “expensive” mobile library is being axed with a council looking to expand its home delivery service and save £2.5m a year.

Hertfordshire County Council will put the brakes on the mobile library, which it says costs three times as much as a trip to a library.

A public consultation also revealed 77 percent of people would visit a different library to their usual centre instead of using the service.

The council is now looking at ways to strengthen community-to-library transport by charities and expanding its Home Library Service, in which volunteers deliver books to those unable to get to a library.

Councillor Frances Button said: “It’s vital that we continue to ensure that people who can’t get out and about can still use our library service.

“I believe that a new approach will offer a better service to the people who need our help while also making better use of taxpayers’ money.”

The county council will also explore how it can increase the use of e-readers and downloadable audio, as well as a book swap scheme.

The authority said the mobile library cost £14 per customer visit.

County Hall believes its Inspiring Libraries project could save about £2.5m every year and make the library service more accessible to vulnerable residents.

There are 46 libraries across Hertfordshire.