Libraries in Wiltshire have more volunteers than anywhere else in the south-west, according to a new report.

The 754 volunteers, more than 300 higher than second-placed Plymouth, last year gave 26,699 hours of their time working in Wiltshire’s 31 branch libraries and five mobile libraries.

Wiltshire was the best in the south-west in the Public Library Statistics for 2012/13 published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountancy.

Readers also borrowed more e-books than anywhere else throughout the region.

Jonathon Seed, cabinet member for libraries, said: “Our volunteers play a vital role in our libraries and I welcome this opportunity to publicly thank them, and the staff working alongside them.”