THESE sad youngsters could see their trips to Highbridge Library come to an end after county bosses snubbed calls to save it from the axe.

On Monday Somerset County Council backed down to pressure and gave a lifeline to most of the 20 libraries threatened with closure - but Highbridge was left among the six which will not be saved.

If the county's plans are approved at a full council meeting on February 16, the local community will have until September to come up with a takeover plan or see the Alpha House facility close for good.

Pam Lyes, of Market Terrace, Highbridge, whose grandchildren use the library, said: “They and other children regularly use it to help with their homework and they are going to be deprived.”

Janine Vowles, owner of Rose Cottage Nursery in Edithmead, takes 16 children to the library every Thursday for a reading session.

She said: “The kids look forward to it every week because it is important for them to experience visiting a library, and they would be devastated if it closed.”

Tessa Munt, MP for Burnham and Highbridge, said: “Everything has been stripped out of Highbridge and this is just one more essential service that is being taken away, and why?”

Somerset County Council leader Ken Maddock insisted the views of local people were at the heart of the council's decision making.