Councillors have agreed to renovate a much-loved library at a cost of £350,000.

There was all-party agreement on the city council last night to the work planned for Hove Library in Church Road.

Christopher Hawtree, founder of the Friends of Hove Library, asked if there would be consultation on the improvements.

But culture councillor Sue John told him there was no need because there would be few changes to departments at the 97-year-old building.

Originally it was suggested the library should be moved to Hove Town Hall to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

But public opinion was strongly in favour of keeping the service in the building donated to Hove by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

The library will be refurbished and measures will be introduced to make it more accessible for disabled people.

This will include a lift to the first floor for disabled people and another lift to the basement for staff.

Other work will include installing closed-circuit TV and better lighting, shelves and furniture.

Green councillor Bill Randall said: "We have come to a sensible conclusion but there is time for a bit of consultation."

Tory opposition leader Garry Peltzer Dunn said he was pleased the plan to move the library had been shelved.

Liberal Democrat group leader Paul Elgood said improvements to the library were welcome.

The library was donated by Carnegie in 1908 and is a Grade II listed building.

The book collection was to have been transferred and the library used for other business purposes but more than 4,000 people joined a campaign to keep the library open.

Alterations will be scheduled around the closure of the temporary Brighton library at Vantage Point, near Preston Circus, and the opening of the central library in Jubilee Street next spring.

External works at Hove will start next January, finishing in April or May, with the building set to reopen in August.