CLOSURE threats to libraries, outdoor education centres and youth clubs in Dorset are set to be lifted after a last-minute reprieve from councillors.

Dorset County Council cabinet members agreed to use more than £2.3 million of extra revenue to maintain what they called 'some of the most vital services' as they agreed a council tax rise for next year of 4.93 per cent.

The windfall has come from the extra council tax on second homes and late changes to grants from the government.

The cabinet will recommend the measures to full council, which is due to make a final decision on February 12.

The services saved from the axe in-clude three library closures planned for Wyke Regis, Colehill and Charmouth.

Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre and Swanage's Leeson House have been given 12 months to become more self-sufficient. And funding threats to five social centres in Weymouth and Port-land have been lifted after £300,000 was put back in the social services budget.

Centres targeted for cuts had included Portland's Drop-In and Outlook Family Centres, Women's Refuges in Wey-mouth and Dorchester and Waves Children's centre.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council leader Anne Thomas welcomed the news. Earlier in the week she had written a strongly-worded letter on behalf of her colleagues to the county council expressing her dismay at the proposed cuts.

Coun Thomas said: "I am very pleased they have listened to our concerns. There's no doubt that the impact would have been huge had they not listened."

The news also delighted residents of Wyke who launched a campaign to save their library, which is 50 years old this year, last week.

Borough Mayor Doug Hollings, who represents the ward, said: "I am ab-solutely delighted - it is such an important part of Wyke Regis. This news will be a great anniversary present."

Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre manager John Perham hailed the stay of execution as fantastic.

He said: "We have a number of options to increase our efficiency. I am please that councillors saw the importance of having a centre which can take kids into and on to the World Heritage Coast."

In recommending the measures, county council leader Tim Palmer warned that next year's budget setting process would be even more difficult than this.