East Sussex mobile libraries could be scrapped as part of a cost-cutting drive.

East Sussex County Council's ruling Conservatives are considering the future of the authority's four vehicles and options include dropping the service.

Cabinet councillor Bob Tidy said: "We are considering the future of mobile libraries and whether or not they are still a necessary service in this day and age.

"We are considering the whole range of options to try to reduce the cost of the mobile library service."

He said options under consideration included an end to the service, changed routes, a static service operating from schools, or a system where books could be ordered by phone.

He said it cost £5.45 for every book issued from the county's four mobile libraries, compared to £1.80 from conventional libraries.

Eight people are employed directly by the mobile library service, which costs just over £250,000 a year to run.

Council chiefs have been told to identify savings of six to ten per cent in day-to-day expenditure in next year's budget and could be asked to cut spending by 15 per cent.

The Conservatives, who inherited a £3.7 million budget shortfall when they won control of the council at the June local elections, have already announced cuts in major building projects of £2.9 million.

The council's Labour group leader, Keith Bridger, accused the Tories of preparing to sell off the service.

The community services scrutiny committee is scheduled to report on the future of mobile libraries in December.