Security guards have been drafted in to deal with a Norfolk town's young library louts.

Norfolk County Council said personnel would be stationed at Downham Market Library until the end of the school holidays after a number of incidents.

As well as a colouring group, superhero story times and a craft club called Paint Misbehavin', the building off Priory Road, in the town centre, has also been the target for anti-social behaviour.

A county council spokesman said: "Over the last few weeks, young people have been carrying out unacceptable behaviour at Downham Market Library on a number of occasions, which is unsettling for both staff and customers.

"The police have been informed and are working with us. We have also put security guards in place temporarily until September 4, when the school terms starts."

It comes after the council revealed anti-social behaviour in Norfolk's libraries had increased by almost 40pc, with staff offered extra support to help deal with rising abuse from visitors.

Figures released in July showed some 110 incidents of anti-social behaviour were recorded in Norfolk's 47 libraries in the year 2023/24, up from 80 incidents in 2022/23.

The council said it was "not able to give a commentary" on why the number of incidents was rising and was not able to link the increase to specific trends.

But the escalation has seen librarians verbally abused and intimidated and equipment smashed up.

Staff are also having to cope with increasing numbers of drunk people in the county's libraries as well as users trying to access "inappropriate material" on computers.

Norfolk's libraries have also been the target of protests over controversial "drag queen story-time" events, which critics say are not age appropriate.

Guards were also brought in at King's Lynn Library in 2018 after a spike in anti-social incidents.