A GROUP of mothers and children have joined campaigners working to save a library threatened with closure to hand over a petition of more than 3,000 signatures against the plans.

The Friends of Cockerton Library delivered the petition to Darlington Borough Council at the town hall, despite an announcement last week that the council is likely to offer a reprieve and keep the library open with reduced hours.

Mike Crawley, spokesman for the Friends, said the petition was still necessary to allow the group to qualify to make a presentation at the Darlington cabinet meeting on Wednesday, March 22.

He added: “The council is taking serious notice - I think we’ve rattled a few cages with our campaign. We are quite confident that the library will be saved. It will be with reduced hours but its something we can work with.

“We went ahead with the petition to remind the council of the strength of feeling that exists about the library in the Cockerton area.

“For the moment we can’t do any more until the council makes its decision next week and on March 1 at full council. After that we will hold another public meeting asking for people to come forward with ideas of what they would like to see in the library and ways that we can make up the reduced hours.”

Council leader Bill Dixon announced last week that a recommendation would be made to the cabinet to keep Cockerton Library open, after it was previously earmarked for closure in the face of budget cuts.