VISITS to Barnsley Central Library shot up by more than 25,000 in the months following its controversial move to Wellington Street - but book borrowing fell.

The number of people through the door in the library's first three months at Wellington Street far outstripped visits by almost 60 per cent compared to its final three months at Shambles Street.

From June to August, 67,907 people visited the library at Wellington Street, a steep rise compared to the 42,673 who visited from December to February while still based at Shambles Street.

The Wellington House home for the library is temporary - a new £4m central library is proposed as part of the £50m Better Barnsley scheme.