THE roof of Malvern Library's new extension has sprung a leak - just three months after it opened its doors to the public.

Water started to come through the roof above the reference and local studies sections in the lower floor during the heavy rains last Friday.

Leaks in the roof also appeared near the inquiries desk on the upper floor. Staff moved bookshelves and put out buckets and cloths to catch the water.

Workmen from Spicers, the firm that built the extension, arrived on Tuesday to fix the problem.

Ruth Foster, Worcestershire County Council's area libraries manager, said: "Spicers were called as soon as the leak downstairs started and came as soon as they could. They couldn't work on Friday or Saturday because it was still raining.

"It seems to have been due to the awful heavy rain we had, which got in through a gap in the lead on the roof and started dripping into the local studies section.

It's been repaired and now we're just waiting for the carpets to dry out."

She thinks the leak upstairs was caused by a blocked and overflowing gutter.

The refurbished library reopened in May after a two-year building programme costing £1.5 million.

The repair work will not cost the taxpayer anything, as Spicers carried it out under the terms of the building's warranty.

George Hatton, Spicers' managing director, said the leak occurred at the join between the existing and new buildings and that the hot weather last month had probably opened it up.