DISCARDED dirty needles and antisocial behaviour has lead to police officers being drafted in to help tackle problems plaguing Bicester Library.

Thames Valley Police are believed to be reviewing CCTV after bookworms were left shocked by 'threatening' behaviour experienced by staff and visitors in the town library 'on almost a daily basis'.

Visitors fear the ongoing problems could put the future of the library, which opened in Pioneer Square in April 2016, in jeopardy.

Oxfordshire county councillor for Bicester and chairman of the authority's education scrutiny committee, Michael Waine, said he was aware of antisocial issues over time and kept in touch with staff to provide support.

He said: "The new Bicester Library is a tremendous asset to our town and we are very fortunate to have such a state of the art facility which has so much to offer all age groups.

"Measures have been taken, including much closer working with Cherwell District Council staff and with local police, to handle the problem when it arises.

"It is a town wide problem, where a few teenagers are spoiling life for the many. All are welcome in the library, but anti-social behaviour is totally unacceptable."

Mr Waine said police are currently reviewing CCTV and following up with home visits.

Visitors to Bicester Library say the new base has been plagued with antisocial behaviour over the past year and despite improvements recently problems have re-emerged in recent weeks.

One regularly visitor, Susan Mitcheson, said she was told last year that a security guard was drafted in to deal with the problems.

She said: "I was utterly shocked to see that there had to be a security guard seated near the entrance all the time, toilets were permanently locked so you had to ask for the key, and two members of staff had to be present at the front desk due to instances of anti-social behaviour.

"I have always thought of a library as a safe, lovely haven. We are so lucky to have this local community resource."

Despite these problems Ms Mitcheson said it did seem that the problems were now being tackled.

But another library user, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "There is anti-social behaviour, threatening behaviour and abuse directed towards the library staff and other library users on an almost daily basis.

"The staff have also been forced to lock the public toilets because drug users are leaving used needles everywhere.

"The council needs to provide customers and staff with protection at the library.

"If the above is not addressed, I fear the library will be shut or worse, someone will contract something from a used needle."

Oxfordshire County Council, which runs the library, said the problems experienced at Bicester library have been 'intermittent, flaring up again in just the past week'.

Council spokesman, Paul Smith, said: "We have had some ongoing issues with problem youths and antisocial behaviour in the library, but these have been dealt with effectively by engaging with the local police where required.

"In addition, we have developed a good working relationship with our Cherwell District Council colleagues in the building and benefit from Storenet Radio which gives us a fast response warning of problems in the town generally.

"The toilets are not currently locked and have not been so for many months now. We are happy to say that we have not experienced any further problems with discarded dirty needles in the building."