CAMPAIGNERS were out in force in Yelverton on Saturday to stop any future threats to library services in Devon.

Villagers joined in the campaign by the National Federation of Women's Institutes to save libraries countrywide with a protest meeting at St Paul's Church car park.

Waving banners, Meavy and Sheepstor WI and friends joined members of Horrabridge and High Moorland Groups and the 1st Yelverton Rainbows and Brownies.

A toy tractor and trailer was loaded with books, in place of the mobile library which is currently undergoing repair.

WI member June Pearton said the mobile library van came to Yelverton on alternate Saturdays from 9.30am to 12.30pm and visited the villages fortnightly, staying for half an hour in each place.

She said:?'The service is well used. If it wasn't there we would have to travel to the nearest libraries which are Tavistock and Plymouth — this is not that practical for women with young children and the elderly.'

Devon County Council has reduced opening times at some libraries in the county and made changes to some mobile services as part of a cost-cutting exercise but says there are no plans to close any of the county's libraries in the forthcoming financial year.

The WI association is raising awareness of libraries to prevent any loss of service in the future ahead of National Libraries Day this Saturday.

The association said: 'Our libraries are facing unprecedented threats as local authorities start to reduce spending in response to the grant they receive from Central Government. We believe it is time for communities to love their libraries, use them, share with each other why we value their services and raise awareness of the threat to their future.'

Yelverton assistant guide leader Mary Helby said for many people it was a Saturday morning ritual to visit the library and even dogs were welcome.

She said libraries helped to embrace a love of reading and it was somewhere where children and parents could enjoy going together.

'It's a wonderful service and in these days when so many community facilities have been lost, libraries are one of the important things we should strive to keep.'

A spokesperson for Devon County Council said: 'Devon County Council is not closing any libraries despite the unprecedented cut in government grant.

'Whilst some authorities across the UK have chosen to close libraries to cut costs, Devon is committed to keeping its libraries open and improving the service.

'However, with significantly less money from Government to run public services, savings must be made and efficiencies have to be made across the council.

'The library service has to find around £2-million of savings, which is being done through restructuring and is why we have had to review opening hours in order to maintain the current network across the county, and ensure that as many people as possible have access to a permanent or mobile library.'

A consultation was carried out last year to see what people wanted out of their local library service.