WEST Somerset libraries under threat of closure were handed a mixed bag of fortune this week as Somerset County Council chiefs announced a partial u-turn on controversial proposals to axe 20 of the county's 34 libraries.

Under new plans, Dulverton and Wiveliscombe are among nine libraries earmarked to be saved, but Porlock, Watchet and Bishops Lydeard are on a hit list of six facing closure from September - unless local communities step in to run them.

A further five - including Nether Stowey - will be given a year's grace to give communities time to gear up to take them over if they decide to do so.

But the change of heart comes with a sting in the tail - a 20 per cent cut in opening hours across all libraries in Somerset.

County council leader Cllr Ken Maddock said the new proposals, which will go before councillors next week ahead of the budget setting full council on February 16, would achieve the necessary total saving of £1.35 million.

"We have listened to what people said and put our residents' views at the heart of our decision making," said Cllr Maddock.

"We carried out a hugely effective public consultation and the overwhelming message was that people understood the savings needed but wanted us to spread the cuts more evenly - that's what we're looking to do."

In addition to the cut in opening hours, library users would be asked to make voluntary donations to help fund the library service.

Around 1,000 people are said to have attended face-to-face meetings during consultation on the original proposals, with an estimated 10,000 responses to feedback forms and hundreds of letters and emails to councillors.

Cllr Christine Lawrence, cabinet member for community, with responsibility for libraries, said people had understood the need to make savings but thought the greatest impact would be felt in rural areas.

"They wanted to see the savings shared out among all libraries, including those in the biggest towns," she said.