THE group behind the campaign to save library services in St John's is celebrating the news that the library has been saved.

Earlier this month, a group of demonstrators took to the streets of St John's in protest at the proposed cuts to library services from Worcestershire County Council.

Sean McCauley, who organised the various protests, said: "We are delighted that the library is safe for the time being.

"That being said, we would like assurances that the decision to save St John's and Warndon has not come at the expense of libraries anywhere else in the county.

"We would also like assurances that there will be no changes to opening hours, wages or staffing levels to operate the library.

"The campaign was hugely encouraging and shows that campaigning does work, with over 100 people turning up to the original consultation back in the winter, and large groups turning out for the march."

The group, campaigning to save the library, also handed in a petition to the County Council demanding that the library services in St John's be protected, attracting over 2,000 signatures.

Yesterday, the Worcester News reported how the services in St John's and Warndon were safe after Worcester City Council agreed to provide £157,000 a year to cover the cost of running both libraries at the same level of service as it does now.

St John's and Warndon libraries ranked in the bottom seven in an assessment of Worcestershire’s 23 libraries by the County Council, which never ruled out complete closure, saying it would only close libraries as a last resort.