ERIC Cheetham was outraged when he was told he needed his birth certificate to renew his library membership.

Mr Cheetham, aged 65, was staggered when staff refused to accept his GMPTE-issued bus pass as proof of age.

But despite the fact Bolton Council forms part of the transport group, it was not good enough for staff at Bolton Central Library in Le Mans Crescent.

Mr Cheetham, of Thicketford Close, Tonge Moor, said: “This is bureaucracy gone mad.

“They already had my details because I was a member before and when I was asked for ID, they said my bus pass was not proof of age.

“I had just gone to borrow a DVD of Fiddler On The Roof but my trip was a waste of time.”

However a council spokesman said customers’ details were wiped off the system after a while for data protection reasons.

He added: “Applicants are required to provide proof of their identity, choosing from an extensive list which includes a birth certificate, utility bill and driving licence to name a few.

“Applicants aged 60 and over or 16 and under are also entitled to further discounts, which is why it is important to verify a person’s date of birth.

“We’re sorry if Mr Cheetham has misunderstood the requirements and we would be more than happy to assist him in his application if he returns.”