A BACKLOG of overdue library books means the county council is now owed more than £500,000 in unpaid fines.

Figures released up to the last financial year show Essex County Council is owed £569,610 in overdue fines.

In Epping Forest, the district's largest library, in Loughton, is owed £24,205 in overdue payments, Waltham Abbey is owed £6,287, Epping £4,672, Ongar £3,181, Buckhurst Hill £2,361, and Chigwell £1,057.

Libraries charge 10p per day for overdue books in the first week, and £1 per week after that, with a maximum fine of £4.70 per item. Other items for loan, such as CDs and DVDs, incur higher charges.

In 2009/10 the council received £306,028 in settled fines.

Epping library's deputy supervisor Freda Staines said: “We do sometimes get things which are very over due, it's not that out of the ordinary, but it's not usually anything ridiculous like 20 years.

“I think the trouble is people who have these fines are frightened to bring the book back but we'd much rather you bring them back and sort things out than never use us again.

“Sometimes you get people who joined as children and they come back much later when they're going to university and we pick up these lost books.

“It can be an issue if it's something very popular and other people want it. The whole idea of libraries is that the community are sharing something. If people take things out and don't bring them back they are being anti-social and selfish.”

Libraries across the district have just started their programme of summer holiday activities for children, Call 01992 564 226 for further information and bookings