IT may have been pouring with rain but the soggy weather did little to dampen the spirits of the scores of campaigners who turned out to support their local library.

Protesters hit the streets of Saxmundham this morning to voice their concerns about Suffolk County Council’s plans to axe the town’s library in Street Farm Road.

The authority is trying save millions of pounds and has said it will have to close 29 libraries unless communities come forward and run them themselves.

Scores of campaigners - including a great number of children waving balloons- turned out in force to protest against the plans.

Many people also held placards with slogans including “No! Our library must not go”, “Keep our library open”, “Libraries mean discovery”, “Books not cuts” and “I love Sax library”.

They met outside the library and then marched to the Market Place and Market Hall.

The event was also attended by Liz Calder, a co-founder of publishing company Bloomsbury, which printed the Harry Potter books.

Organiser Jennie Pink said the first week it was launched, 1,422 people signed a petition against the library’s closure.

“We have a huge amount of support,” she said. “It’s not just about Saxmundham, it’s about saving all 29 libraries.

“We have got to make these councillors listen. They are forcing through an ideology and communities are going to lose out.”

She said the march was a celebration of Saxmundham Library and the services that it provided for the whole community.