After just one week, the action group formed to campaign against the proposed closure of Usk library has received hundreds of votes of support.

Residents of the town and the surrounding villages who use the library have been signing up to the Facebook page, an online petition and a paper petition.

Alongside this, pupils of Usk Primary school spontaneously began their own petition and many people have sent personal letters of objection to County Council Chief Paul Matthews.

The campaign began immediately after library staff received news of the proposal.

Around 150 residents attended a hastily convened public meeting, from which a small action group was formed. Usk Town Council, County Councillor Brian Strong, David Davies MP and Nick Ramsay AM are all supporting the campaign.

Action group leader Julie McGowan said, "The idea that Usk should lose its library makes no sense at all.

"It is the only public service we have in the town, and statistics show that it is the most well-used library in the county, with every age group represented, from nursery children to retired residents.

"Whilst we appreciate that budgetary cuts have to be made, no-one in Usk can understand why the closure of our library has to be one of them.

"We have a large proportion of elderly residents who are unable to travel further afield, and our very limited bus services make a 20-mile round trip to the nearest library impossible for many. From summer reading schemes for children to courses on computer skills for older users, our library truly serves the whole community."

The action group is continuing to urge residents to sign the petitions and write to the County Council.

Letters can be handed in for collection at the Sessions House, the library, Lindwalls newsagents and the post office, where there are also petitions to sign.

The next public meeting is to be held on Tuesday October 22 at 8pm at the Centenary Hall, Maryport Street, when the action group hopes to put its case together to take to the County Council.

For further information contact the group on 07851 291696