Part of a library has been forced to temporarily close after RAAC was found in the roof.

Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has been found in Hornsey Library, six months after a survey said the roof appeared in "good condition".

Haringey Council closed the adults section of the library on March 12 as a "precautionary measure" following advice from structural engineers after an investigation.

It said "urgent" work is underway to establish what needs to be done and a timeline for reopening.

Other parts of the library do not contain RAAC and are not affected.

Built to replace a smaller 19th century library, the Grade II-listed library in Haringey Park was completed in April 1965.

Closed in 2019 for a major £3m renovation project, it was reopened in November 2021. 

A council spokesperson said: “Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) is affecting buildings up and down the country and we have been proactive and actively involved in tackling the issue."

They said an initial survey in September 2023 reported the RAAC discovered in a section of the roof appeared in good condition but required further investigation.   

“Urgent work is now being undertaken to establish appropriate mitigation measures and a timeline for the reopening of the adults section," they added. 

"An update will be provided as soon as possible.  

“We appreciate this partial closure at short notice will cause disruption to library users but, as residents would expect, safety is our top priority.”