CHALFONT St Peter book worms are staging a week of protest in a bid to save their library before Bucks County Council will decide its future on April 11.

Resident Karen Dickson hopes a final community effort this week will prove how much they need their village library, which had its services cut to 23 hours a week in recent times.

A petition, email chain and leaflet drops are all planned across the village for this week which Mrs Dickson hopes will lead to more residents officially voicing their concerns.

She said: "If we could force the Council to rethink their decision their decision and realise what a valuable resource it is to the community and maintain it as it is.’’ Over 12 weeks of public consultation and two public meetings Chalfont St Peter residents heard how they may be left in control of the library.

She said: "Bucks County Council needs to play fair. We are feeling the pinch of budgetary cuts every which way we turn. We are being told to cut back, and reduce costs and make savings in every sphere of our public and private lives.’’ BCC Communications officer Kate Walker said they are committed to continue to supply books, the county library IT network connections and public PCs, agree lease arrangements at peppercorn rent values and offer small grants supporting library running costs.

Mrs Dickson said the library had roughly 2500 active borrowers, many being young children, elderly pensioners and vulnerable adults.

Residents need to officially object by April 7 via the Facebook page ‘Save Chalfont St Peter Library’, or email BCC Service Delivery Manager David Jones on c-dajones@buckscc.gov.uk or by post to Library Consultations, Chalfont St Peter, County Hall, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP20 1UA.