In the light of the planned cuts to library services in Surrey, Warlingham residents have started a petition to safeguard Warlingham library. Under the proposals, 11 Surrey libraries, including Warlingham library, would be closed unless volunteers can be recruited to run them.

Warlingham resident, Gillian Woods, said: "There are major issues to be addressed if the library is solely staffed by volunteers including data protection, CRB checks and who should order books etc. It seems important to keep the library open with professional staff in some capacity to help with things like school projects, books for the housebound and many other tasks. Warlingham is still a community but for how much longer with no library if it closed? There would be no Citizens Advice, community policing, story time and no internet access for many people. The library is used as a base for many community organisations.

"We started the petition because it seemed appropriate to inform people of the possibilty of closure and seek their views. A considerable number of people, particularly the more elderly, had no idea there was a threat of closure. We have had an excellent response so far, all of it positive."

The petition to save Warlingham library can be signed at The Captain's Table Fish and Chip shop, Barnet Fayre hairdressers and Flavours coffee shop at Warlingham Green.