FOUR months after its closure was announced, campaigners fighting to save Stow Hill library in Newport need support to re-open it.

A group of dedicated volunteers managed to secure an agreement with Newport council to keep the library open until this month, while they tried to look at ways to secure its future as a community entity.

The council formally decided to close the library on March 31 because of budget constraints.

Tonight the Stow Hill library association want to discuss if residents think it would be possible to launch a community library, including discussing proposals on how they would fund it and general canvassing of interest in taking the project on.

The group visited a community library in Mitchell Dean, a small village in the Forest of Dean who had been in a similar position as themselves, after the council there stopped funding the library.

The residents formed a group, and with the help of around 40 volunteers in total they got the library up and running again.

Alan Roderick, one of the volunteers heavily involved in the campaign to save the library said: "We plan to resurrect the old Stow Hill Library building into a small community centre where we hope to offer diverse events such as lectures on local history, arts and crafts demonstrations, crafting, thrifting, sewing, knitting, crocheting.

"We would also have computers, perhaps a cinema club and things like sci-fi groups and other interest groups could meet there.

"For that we are obviously going to need to apply for grants and other funding sources so we must show there is that interest.

"We are in the process of trying to get ideas so we can put together a business plan to show we are serious about this. That’s why we need people’s help and expertise."

The meeting starts at 7.30pm at Stow Park Church, Brynhyfryd Road and anyone is welcome to attend.