Union workers at Lambeth's libraries have said they are on course to secure a deal which would protect their service and avoid future job losses.

Library staff cancelled strike action last week following "concessions" from the council regarding redundancies.

Lambeth branch secretary for Unison, Jon Rogers, said the deal was "tribute to the hard work for our shop stewards, but also to the unity and determination of our members in the libraries, who were ready to strike to defend the library service and protect their jobs."

Assistant branch secretary and library worker Ruth Cashman added: "This is just one positive step in our continuing campaign to protect the library service as a key public service for the people of Lambeth and we hope that other council workers will learn from our example and get organised and active in the trade union to protect jobs and services."

But Coun Florence Nosegbe, the council's cabinet member for culture, said the threat of strike action had been "premature", as the official consultation period was not yet complete.

She added the council was now on a "better footing" to avoid redundancies in the service.

She said: "We've always been prepared to discuss with staff their ideas for how we get the best structure for our library service.

"Our absolute priority is to get the most effective structure in place so the service libraries give to our customers improves."

Lambeth libraries currently have the lowest user satisfaction levels of any London borough. West Norwood Library and the Nettlefold Hall library are still temporarily closed after thieves stole copper from roof of the buildings.

In an interim report to the cabinet this week, Lambeth Libraries Commission said it was examining a range of options in order to improve the borough's libraries and cut running costs.

These include creating multi-purpose 'community hubs' providing library services as well as other services, increasing fines and charges for DVD rental and introducing self-service checkouts.