Major refurbishment has forced the borough’s busiest library to remain closed until the middle of May.

Central Library, Clements Road, Ilford has been fully closed throughout April so work on its �465,000 refurbishment could take place.

Redbridge Museum, local studies and archives and lending and reference libraries were due to reopen on May 1 but work is now expected to be finished in mid June.

The York and Gloucester Rooms will be the first to reopen in mid May.

The work, which began in January, aims to make the library more user-friendly by making stock easier to find, creating a new caf� in the foyer and adding self-service machines.

The nearest libraries for residents to use during the closure are Gants Hill, in Cranbrook Road and Seven Kings in High Road as well as online resources. For more information visit www.redbridge.gov.uk.

A spokesman for Redbridge Council said “extra improvements” are taking place to decorate and replace ceilings and floors.

She added: “These works weren’t included in the original improvement plan however, as they would have needed to be done in the near future, it was felt there would be less disruption to carry out this work while the library was still closed.

“It will also mean that all public areas of the library have been redecorated by the time the library reopens.

“The York and Gloucester rooms are less affected by the extra improvements so will be opened a little earlier, however there may still be limited disruption at times due to the remaining works taking place in the rest of the building.”