UP to ten Hampshire libraries face axe and dozens of jobs could be lost as county bosses try to balance the books.

The number of libraries across the county could drop from 48 to 38 and the remaining ones could see a 15% reduction in their opening hours as part of restructure of the library service in Hampshire.

But county bosses said there is still a possibility for all Hampshire libraries to remain open but that would mean that there would be a 25% reductions in their opening hours.

Residents are now asked to have their say on the two proposed options or suggests new ways that would help Hampshire County Council save £1.76m from the library service by 2021.

The move means that between 40 to 50 jobs would be at risk.

Documents released by the county council today as part of a ten-week public consultation revealed that the libraries at risk of closure are the ones in Blackfield and Lyndhurst in the New Forest, Fair Oak Library in Fair Oak, Chineham  and South Ham libraries in Basingstoke, Elson library in Gosport, Emsworth library in Havant, Horndean in East Hampshire, Lee-on-the-Solent library in Gosport and Odiham library in Hart.

Additionally, Kingsclere Community Library, Lowford Community Library, Milford-on-Sea Community Library and North Baddesley Community Library may be turned into independent community-managed libraries which means they will no longer be supported by the county council and will have to be run entirely by volunteers.

Cllr Sean Woodward, executive member for recreation and heritage at the county council said the authority is "absolutely committed to providing a high-quality library service".

The consultation will close on March 18 and the authority stressed that no decision will be made until all consultation responses have been fully analysed.

Documents have revealed that 300 people work full time across libraries in Hampshire.