Tracy Beaker writer backs library fight

Children's author Jacqueline Wilson is urging council bosses to think again over cuts to libraries and warns of the "dreadful" impact of them closing.

The former children's laureate said she would do whatever she can to help in the fight to save the capital's libraries and told how she "practically lived" in her local one as a child.

Wilson, 65, who is best-known for her series of novels following The Story of Tracy Beaker, today became the latest author to back the Evening Standard's Save Our Libraries Campaign.

She said: "I'm delighted to do whatever I can to help save our libraries. When I was a child I practically lived in my local library. It seems so dreadful that our excellent libraries are under threat.

"It's great that the Evening Standard's campaign is making such an impact." Meanwhile, in Clapham, actress Miriam Margolyes yesterday lent her support to a campaign to turn the Old Town Library into a community arts centre.

Campaigners said the building was promised to them by Lambeth council but that it is now at risk of being sold off to developers.

The Harry Potter actress said: "This is a great space, it's been around for ever and people want to use it and keep it. It's a beautiful building. The arts cross all barriers and that's the wonderful thing."

Councillor Nigel Haselden, Lambeth's cabinet member for regeneration, said: "We need to look at how we can get best value for money from the old library building.

The community will be involved in the future use of the old Clapham library."