People power has forced councillors to delay plans to close Hove Library.

The Labour minority group on Brighton and Hove City Council wants to shut the central library in Hove and move it to the town hall.

The group says this would result in a more modern and convenient library in place of the 97-year-old Carnegie building, which would be hard to adapt to modern needs.

However, opposition to the move has been strong and the crunch came when the Green group on the council wanted more information.

Without the Greens' wholehearted support, it would have been impossible for Labour to move the plan through at the policy meeting tomorrow.

Deputy council leader Sue John said: "Following further discussions with colleagues from other political parties, I have come to the conclusion that it would not be appropriate to take the decision at this stage.

"We recognise the public concern expressed over the proposed move and want to spend some time looking at the options available to us in greater detail."

Between now and Christmas, there will be a detailed appraisal of the two options of moving or keeping the library where it is with adaptations.

Officials will examine which is best for local residents in terms of the quality of the library service, access for people with disabilities and separate space for children.

A cross-party working group will be set up to oversee this process. It is likely there will be public consultation on the two options in the New Year, with final proposals going back to councillors in the spring.

Tory opposition leader Brian Oxley said: "I am delighted Hove library on its current site has been given a reprieve and that the cross-party working group will not have a Labour majority.

"The Conservative group now has the opportunity to make the case for the library to remain on its current site."

Green group convenor Keith Taylor said: "We are glad more time will be given to explore the possibilities and explain the implications of the library remaining in place or transferring it to another building.

"There was simply too little detail offered in the council proposals to transfer and supporters of remaining in the existing building often didn't realise that much public space would be lost in making the building disabled friendly."

Liberal Democrat leader Paul Elgood said: "I welcome further discussion. There are some complex issues here, which will benefit from extra input."

Coun John said: "Our aim remains to improve the quality of the library service for Hove residents. The precise details of how we achieve this will become clearer over the coming months."

Hove author Christopher Hawtree, who led opposition to the move, said: "It's heartening that the importance of the library - and of its admirable staff - has been recognised at the eleventh hour.

"All the ballyhoo, bringing Hove more national attention, need not have arisen if Hove residents had been considered at the start.

"Hundreds of people said and wrote, in their own words, what they felt - that a sense of place is central in the mind and affections. To play fast and loose with that risks unrest.

"Real discussion is what is needed."