PARENTS have protested against plans to run down their village library.

Mums and dads joined campaigners yesterday to show their opposition to Kirklees Council plans to remove paid staff from Slaithwaite Library.

The centre is one of seven which officials have earmarked to be taken over by volunteers.

Robert Brown, of Slaithwaite, was one of the parents protesting yesterday.

He was attending the weekly story-telling and singing session with his four-month-old son Wilf.

“This is a community centre where parents can come together,” said Mr Brown.

“There’s a session every Monday for the under-fives where they can sing songs and listen to stories. Everyone is welcome and it doesn’t cost anything so it’s an absolutely ideal way of socialising children and getting them used to other kids before they go to school.

“I’m going to enrol Wilf at the library today and I hope in the future it will be a resource for us, a place where we can borrow books, DVDs and other materials.”

Mr Brown fears the plan to make the library volunteer-run will be the first step towards closure.

“Losing a community resource will be quite hard,” he said.