A borrowed book has been returned to a Cumbrian library 25 years overdue.
The book, Mining in the Lake Counties by WT Shaw, was returned to Penrith Library anonymously during a special 10-day library amnesty organised by Cumbria County Council to mark the start of the National Year of Reading.
It was last borrowed in April 1983: the same year John McEnroe won his second Wimbledon singles title, seatbelt use for drivers and front seat passengers became mandatory and the film Ghandi won best film award at the Oscars.
In total, around 400 overdue items were returned to libraries across the county during amnesty period which ran from 6-16 February.
Councillor Gary Strong, cabinet member responsible for the county council’s Library Service, said: "As well as bringing items back in to circulation, the amnesty has no doubt helped some people who may have been reluctant to come back to their local library to return with a clean slate.
"Having a book brought back after a quarter of a century was certainly a nice surprise. Hopefully the borrower finished reading it before it was returned!"
ENDS
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