31 May 2012 Last updated at 09:27 ET

Wootton Fields public library under threat

A community library in Northampton is under threat of closure after the council said it could no longer afford to pay its running costs.

Northamptonshire County Council wants to relocate Wootton Fields Library at Caroline Chisholm school in September.

A new location has not yet been chosen for the new library. In the meantime the council has proposed having a mobile library at the site.

Campaigners against the plan have said the service is well used.

Campaign coordinator David Atkinson is leading an online petition against the plans and said a realistic alternative had not yet been drawn up to the service.

Heather Smith, cabinet member for customer services, said the library was too expensive to run due to its PFI running costs.

The cost to the library service in 2011-12 was £143,850 and in 2012-13 is expected to rise to £150,850.

Mrs Smith said: "We can no longer ignore the high cost of the PFI arrangements and the need for a library that is more accessible to everyone that needs it."

The council is set to discuss the plans in July. Should the closure take place it could be carried out in September.