Cambridge mayor Keri Shannon told Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings that councillors were unanimous on the decision.

"The report to council explained that the cost of the administration was actually greater than the fee collected," she said on Friday.

Libraries around the world were scrapping overdue fines after research showed it increased returns and saved staff costs.

"We really want to change the way people use our libraries, and we want to take away the need to bring the books in a short period of time," Shannon said.

"People have busy lives and they may not be able to get the books back within a certain time ... a reasonable time that they feel they can read them and enjoy them."

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