ESSENTIAL work is under way on the multi-million pound library extension in Winchester.

Builders are drilling test holes in the car park next to the building in Jewry Street to help engineers plan the foundations.

Hampshire County Council wants to ensure that they avoid the Second World War air raid shelters under the car park. A planning application to the city council is due later this month.

The councils are united in their support and funding for the project, describing it as a a "cultural centre". The drilling work will mean that parts of the car parks will be cordoned off over a two-week period.

The £7m project will provide Winchester residents with the most modern library in Hampshire.

A multi-purpose hall, a new art gallery and the latest IT facilities for access to information and learning will be some of the facilities to be included in the centre.

It will also house the reference library.

There will also be new space for museum collections, which will be provided by the city council's Museums Service in partnership with the county.

Public consultation indicated majority support for the scheme over the option of refurbishing the existing library.

The project has been launched amid national controversy about a reduced emphasis on books and reading.

A county council spokesman said there will be as many lending books within the new library as are currently kept at Jewry Street.

However there will be fewer reference books, as many reference materials are now only available online or on CD-ROM.

The North Walls reference library currently houses the county's reserve stocks of reference material.

The county council is currently looking for an alternative location to store them outside the city centre.