ST JOHN'S residents are being asked to "keep their fingers crossed" as the community waits to hear if £1 million of funding has been secured for the library.

A formal bid has now been submitted by St John's library, based in Glebe Close, for Big Lottery funding to give it a revamp.

The money would go towards a doubling of the computers to 12, new furniture and furnishings, a self-service counter and a two-floor extension.

It would mean a new dedicated space for people to use laptops and a new main entrance for visitors at the front.

Ruth Foster, library area co-ordinator, said: "We managed to meet our spring deadline and am now waiting until September to hear the result.

"Hopefully, it will be successful. We've had a lot of feedback from the St John's community already and we know we've got a good bid.

"I knew we had a wait on our hands because the lottery was anticipating a lot of bids. We are keeping our fingers crossed and hope others will be, too. If we get it, it would be great - a real good news story for libraries and the St John's area."

If the cash is secured, it would be the first time the library has had an upgrade since it was converted from an old school 25 years ago.

As the Worcester News reported on Friday, the county council is planning to save £460,000 by making cuts to libraries elsewhere.

The cuts could include staffing changes, the axing of up to three of the five mobile libraries, a reduction of opening hours and charging for internet use.

Coun Philip Gretton, cabinet member for adult and community services, said: "There is no chance that St John's library will be affected by the cuts. We've specifically listed libraries for review and St John's is not one of them."