LIBRARIES across Hampshire, including Fordingbridge and Ringwood, will see their opening hours reduced.

Plans to close eight of the 48 Hampshire County Council-run libraries across Hampshire were given the green light on Tuesday.

And all the remaining libraries will have their opening hours reduced by an average of 20 per cent, with a public consultation on the details set to be launched next month.

But county bosses previously said that the opening hours of some libraries could increase or decrease by up to 39 per cent “to achieve a standardised approach”.

The decision was taken by Councillor Sean Woodward, the council’s executive member for recreation and heritage, during a virtual meeting.

The approved plans to close libraries in Blackfield and Lyndhurst in the New Forest, Fair Oak Library in Fair Oak,  South Ham in Basingstoke, Elson library in Gosport, Horndean in East Hampshire, Lee-on-the-Solent library in Gosport and Odiham library in Hart.

Chineham library in Basingstoke and  Emsworth library in Havant  – which were also under threat – will remain open.

The move will save Hampshire County Council £1.76m.