Read-in turns into night of protest

Protesters occupied a library overnight after a national day of action over threatened closures. A group of about 40 people from the Save New Cross Library Campaign opted to continue their earlier "read-in" until noon yesterday.

Save Our Libraries Day saw more than 100 events held across Britain to bring attention to proposed government spending cuts, under which 350 libraries are understood to be threatened with closure.

As well as "read-ins", there were storytelling, writing workshops and music events, with authors including Philip Pullman and the musician Billy Bragg pledging their support.

James Holland, a New Cross protester, told the BBC: "We are going to take the libraries campaign to a whole new level. We are just not going to put up with these cuts."

Lauren Smith, of the campaign group Voices for the Library, said: "Local councils are having to make these decisions so quickly. Once a library is shut it will never reopen. When councils realise what they have done it will be too late."