A hidden well was uncovered by workmen at a library during refurbishment works.

The unexpected discovery at Oakham Library was revealed by Rutland County Council leader Gale Waller (Lib Dem) at a meeting on Thursday 29 January to discuss the authority's budget for 2026/27.

The council had announced a delay earlier this month but only said some "unexpected additional work" had been identified.

Cllr Waller was asked at a meeting of the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee if any of the authority's major ongoing projects would be hampered by a proposed shake-up of local government – which could see Rutland join North Leicestershire to form a larger council authority.

Using the works at the library as an example she said there would often be hurdles to overcome in complex developments.

She said: "There are always things that will happen. Taking the library work as an example, there was nothing that told us there was a well in the middle of it. 

"As far as possible we are providing leeway in our budget for the unexpected."

Chairing the meeting, Cllr Lucy Stephenson (Conservative) said she was "gobsmacked" by the discovery of the well given the council had recently paid outside consultants to conduct an asset review.

But the meeting heard the library was not part of the audit – and council chief executive Mark Andrews told councillors that the well was not on any plans for the library site.

The library is now set to re-open on Monday (February 2), although some of the works are still ongoing.

Libraries lead Christine Wise (Lib Dem) said: "We're very pleased to be reopening Oakham Library after the unavoidable delays we encountered this month. 

"We're not fully finished but have done what we need to be able to reopen the main library area. 

"There are still works taking place in the library and on new rooms for families and young people, but this shouldn't cause too much disruption. 

"We're looking forward to showing off all the improvements very soon, once everything is done."