A library could become the first in the country to open a prayer room.

Sutton Council’s library service has received a request from several Muslims to open a prayer room in Sutton central library.

It is now considering the proposals to open an inter-faith prayer room in its facility at Sutton Civic Centre.

It is understood no other public libraries in the country have such a room.

Birmingham City Council is due to open a contemplation and prayer room in a new library complex next year.

Sutton considering the proposals has angered the National Secular Society (NSC), who said libraries should not be places of worship.

NSC president Terry Sanderson said: “At a time when libraries are reducing their hours, cutting back on purchases and some even closing, they should be spending their dwindling resources on their primary purpose, not on prayer rooms.

“In some situations a prayer room can be justified – in a prison, for instance, when there is no alternative provision or in a hospital where patients cannot easily get to a place of worship.

“But a library? If people want to pray, they should go to the mosque or church before they come to the library.

“To accede to this request would be a complete misuse of the council’s sparse budgets.”

The move is understood to have concerned some library users and staff worried about a loss of space.

Councillor Jill Whitehead, chairman of the environment and neighbourhood committee on Sutton Council, said: “We have had several requests through our library feedback forms to set up a prayer room.

“The council is always interested in hearing residents’ ideas for new services and facilities, so we’re currently looking at whether it will be possible to set up a room to be used for prayer and contemplation by members of any faith.”

Census statistics from 2001 showed about 20 per cent of people in Sutton were not religious or did not state they had a religion.

About 70 per cent said they were Christian, and 2.5 per cent Muslim.