LIBRARY lovers in Wiveliscombe demonstrated the power of the written word when they took part in a national day of action last Saturday.

More than 50 people packed into the town's newly refurbished library as part of a continuing campaign to stop library closures across the county and UK.

Although Wiveliscombe appears to have had the threat of closure withdrawn and is earmarked to remain fully funded under controversial cuts being imposed by Somerset County Council, local campaigners are throwing their weight behind other libraries at risk.

These include Porlock, Watchet and Bishops Lydeard - all set to close in September unless local communities step in to run them.

Dulverton also looks set to have won a reprieve but Nether Stowey is among five libraries given a year's grace to give communities time to gear up to take them over, if they decide to do so.

Denise Reynolds of the Friends of Wiveliscombe Library said Saturday's 'Read-In' was part of the national Save Our Libraries protest.

"We were very pleased with the response - it's all about keeping up the momentum and encouraging people to keep on letter writing and lobbying."

Mrs Reynolds said the event had also been an opportunity to keep people up to date with the latest information on the progress of the campaign, both locally and nationally.

The Wiveliscombe protest was one of at least 80 events staged across the UK, where the future of around 350 libraries is thought to be in jeopardy.

Photo: Steve Guscott