Thurrock Council is reassuring residents that there are no plans to close any of the borough's libraries after around 1,600 members of Tilbury library were sent a letter or email asking them to take part in a consultation which potentially seeks to reduce the number of libraries in Essex.

An administrative error by Essex County Council has meant the letter or email has been sent to Tilbury Library members by mistake. Tilbury Library is owned and managed by Thurrock Council, however, and is not part of this consultation.

Rob Gledhill, Leader of Thurrock Council, said: "I would like to reassure any resident who has been unduly concerned by this cock-up that we have no plans whatsoever to close any of our libraries. Essex County Council might be consulting on proposals to potentially reduce the number of libraries they operate but we have no such plans here in Thurrock.

"A report will go before our Cabinet next week in which we outline a bright future for our libraries. We are not only planning on keeping all of our libraries open but we are looking towards an enhanced service which will make sure our library provision remain at the heart of our communities.

"We will be taking this matter up with Essex County Council to ensure that everyone who has received this communication in error is sent a follow-up letter putting any fears to rest and making sure they understand it does not reflect the situation with Thurrock’s libraries and was sent to them in error."