CAMPAIGNERS gathered en masse to oppose contentious plans to slash opening hours at Southampton libraries.

Dozens of protestors met outside Cobbett Road Library to urge council chiefs to rethink their budget proposals - and they demonstrated their strength of feeling by handing over a 500-name petition.

They are angry that less than a year after Liberal Democrat closure plans were defeated with some celebrity support, the Conservatives are proposing to cut hours at five libraries by an average of 9.5 hours.

Opposition moved up a gear at a meeting with the council's library boss, John Hannides, at the weekend.

Campaigner Rachel Hickman said: "This library is like the community centre for Bitterne. There are so many groups that use the community rooms.

"I think the point is that services should not be cut full stop."

Before the meeting Cllr Hannides said he wanted to see if the community could work with the council to maintain longer hours - though he admitted that it would probably mean volunteers putting in the hours for free and finding other ways to raise revenue.

And he told campaigners on Saturday that no firm decision had been taken and that consultation would continue.

For more on this story see today's Daily Echo