Magazines are to be axed from Lancashire's libraries in a cost-cutting move.

Around £30,000 per year will be saved when Lanacashire’s library service cancels the subscriptions for a range of magazines ranging from Good Housekeeping to Top Gear, Family Circle and Lancashire Life.

But Nelson North and Brierfield’s Coun Mohammed Iqbal said the decision could alienate hundreds of elderly readers who cannot afford £4 or £5 for specialist publications.

Coun Iqbal said: “The reading rooms, and I know this from going regularly into Nelson Library, are often a good meeting place for older people.

“The county council leader, Geoff Driver, will be leaving these people isolated in their own homes instead.”

“This particular cut demonstrates that this Tory administration is not interested in the poor or vulnerable members of our society.”

Some of the larger county libraries, like Burnley, Accrington and Clitheroe, regularly stock around 30-plus magazines for users.

Julie Bell, manager of Lancashire county libraries, said: “Whilst I am pleased to say that we are not closing any of our libraries, it's only right that our service makes a contribution to the £179m savings that the county council has to make over the next three years.

“As part of this all of our libraries will stop subscribing to magazines and periodicals from 1 June, with the exception of 'Which?'.

"This will enable us to save £29,000 this year alone.

“However, we will be pleased to help our customers to access magazines online.

We will continue to provide newspapers, although the titles available may vary.”