Campaigners are making a last-ditch attempt to save their village library from closure.

Members of Save Our Unique Library (SOUL) have asked Libraries Minister Margaret Hodge to investigate Kent County Council’s reasons for closing Hormonden’s public library from Saturday, August 16.

The group is still considering whether to take the closure issue to the High Court or to ask the Local Government Ombudsman to look at the KCC’s decision.

KCC suddenly decided to shut the library, housed in the village primary school since it opened in 1969, after school governors decided it could not remain there because of child protection issues.

A mobile library, calling once a fortnight, will replace it.

Meanwhile, villagers are planning to mark the closure after almost 40 years with a series of commemorative events.

SOUL member Isobel Kerrigan said: “Many people have worked very hard over a long period to try to secure the library for the village and we would like this recognised in a positive way.

“We have also had so much support from the wider community that we felt we could not let Horsmonden library close after nearly 40 years without a proper 'goodbye’ and a 'thank you’ to all the library staff who have served the village for the past four decades.”

For full story, see Friday's Kent Messenger