East Finchley Library has been singled out for cuts despite attracting more visitors than East Barnet library and lending more books than Mill Hill, it was revealed this week.

The move has been branded as 'despicable Tory prejudice' by Labour councillors who believe that East Finchley has been selected because Barnet's Conservatives know they cannot win a seat in the ward in May.

East Finchley Library is to be closed one evening a week and at lunchtimes, as part of April's budget. The reduced opening hours will save £57,000 a year.

The library loaned out 128,000 books last year, while the facility in Mill Hill, a Liberal Democrat ward which the Conservatives have held in the past, only loaned 115,000.

East Finchley library had an average of 2,633 visitors per week in 2004, compared to East Barnet's 2,287. The latter is in a marginal ward.

Colin Rogers, Labour councillor for the East Finchley ward, said: "Barnet Tories are picking on East Finchley library for no good reason whatsoever.

"There's no evidence or facts involved. It's pure, despicable Tory prejudice because people in East Finchley have the good sense not to vote Conservative.

"That just about sums it up. I'm against downgrading any library, including East Finchley, East Barnet or Mill Hill. Rather than cutting services, staff and hours, the council should be investing to improve all our libraries."

But Councillor John Marshall, cabinet member for education, argued that the council's figures did, in fact, suggest that East Finchley was the least popular library.

When taken together, its figures for visitors and the number of books lent did not compare favourably with other facilities.

Responding to the accusation of prejudice, he said: "That is cynical and obscene suggestion."

He claimed the proposed cuts were result of a lack of government funding. "It is up to Barnet councillors and Barnet MPs to speak up for Barnet," he said. "The Government should not be short-changing Barnet."