BOOKWORMS carrying placards paraded through the streets of Manningtree in an act of defiance against their library being axed.

More than 30 campaigners took to the town centre on Saturday urging residents to sign a mum’s petition to keep Manningtree Library open.

The library is one of 25 in Essex which faces being scrapped within the next two years by Essex County Council to save about £2million a year.

Holly Turner, of Norman Road, Manningtree, launched the petition against the potential closure of her town’s library in November which has collected more than 1,600 signatures so far.

The mum-of-two set up a stall in the town between 11am and 1pm on Saturday to rally more support for her cause.

She said: “Petitioning and leafleting was really positive over the weekend.

“We had a stall on the local market and had a constant stream of people chatting to us about Essex County Council’s consultation and future plans from the library.”

The online consultation has been signed by more than 12,000 people on the future of the multiple libraries in the county which could be closed.

Holly added: “The community is keen to work together to maintain the library in its current format with no cuts and no reduction in services.”

Holly, along with the other campaigners, collected an extra 100 signatures at the weekend.

She added: “The petition raises awareness and gives a strong sense of how the community is feeling with regard to this closure.”

Holly said she will be meeting with Harwich and North Essex MP Sir Bernard Jenkin later this week on the matter.

Debbie Burrows, of Oxford Road, Manningtree, was also part of the campaign on Saturday.

She said: “Libraries were first born out the desire to read an organised collection of books and documents that everyone could freely access.

“Although some of us might not continuously use the library, we should still have the desire to do everything we can to save it for the many people that do.”

To sign Holly’s petition visit change.org and search Manningtree Library.

Essex County Council’s consultation ends on February 20.

For details go to libraries.essex.gov.uk/libraries-consultation.