MORE than 300 people have signed a petition to keep Fence library open.

The Wheatley Lane library is one of five earmarked for closure by Lancashire County Council in a bid to save £10million. And, as reported in yesterday's Lancashire Evening Telegraph, council chiefs at county hall in Preston have recommended that councillors agree to the closure when they meet next month.

But Pendle Council has vowed to fight the plans and Brierfield resident Shirley Ellis, who was awarded the MBE by the Queen for her services to the library, has been busy rallying support for the campaign.

Now top councillors want to meet county council bosses to plead the Fence library's case.

Coun John David said: "We have always supported the villages in this borough.

"We know the value of village life and we've put our money where our mouth is in the past. We should arrange for a deposition from this council to the county council and put forward a strong case to keep Fence library open. Anything this council can do we should consider it and avoid destroying the work that's been built up to make this valuable community service and everyone in the village will be devastated to see it closed."