More than a hundred angry residents united in protest against the planned closure of Southchurch Library.

Children, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents stood firm in the cold, to make their opposition clear to Southend Council's proposed closure of the library, in Lifstan Way.

Many carried placards stating: "Books not cuts", "No banks. No Post Offices. Enough is enough", "Local children need local library" and "Seven local schools. No library. Why?"

Another placard stated "Hoot to keep our library" and if the response from passing drivers was anything to go by, this protest represented a much larger groundswell of opposition across Southend.

Joan Crosby, 83, of Westbury Grove, Southchurch, said: "I think it's dreadful. I come here every week and I don't know how I would get to the other library. My great granddaughter comes down her regularly from school too."