THE fight to save Highbridge's library has cranked up a gear this week.

So far 23 members of the local community have answered an SOS plea from Burnham and Highbridge Town Council to help run the doomed facility.

As reported in the Weekly News, the Market Street library faces closure under Somerset County Council cutbacks unless volunteers take it over.

Town councillor Pat Burge said: “Things are looking really hopeful now.”

Meanwhile, town councillor Joe Leach has taken his personal crusade to halt Somerset's proposed library closures directly to the Government's top man.

He visited the Department for Communities and Local Government to hand deliver a letter to Secretary of State Eric Pickles, calling on him to intervene.

It comes after Cllr Leach directed a series of questions to Mr Pickles suggesting local councils share senior members of staff and back office functions before considering closing libraries.

But Cllr Leach says the letter was simply passed on to another department, which replied with just details of cuts in the budget.

He said: “To show him just how serious I am about this matter, I have brought my letter to him directly, and to let him know I will not just let this go, but keep pestering him until he answers those questions.”