LIBRARY users across Dorset made their feelings felt over proposed cuts to the system as they joined a day of protest across the UK.

Passionate campaigners organised ‘read-ins’ while musician Billy Bragg performed at Charmouth library.

Dorset County Council plans to close 20 of its 34 libraries in a bid to save £800,000.

People staged a quiet but well-attended read-in at Lytchett Matravers library.

They borrowed extra books, made sure they visited that day, and up to 20 people at a time sat down and read to back the campaign.

Wareham Library is not one of those currently in the firing line, but dozens still turned out to show their feeling over proposed cuts.

John Thrazes, 69, from Wareham, who is disabled, said: “Our library is such a useful resource that we don’t want to lose.”

Elsewhere, an event at a south London library turned into an all-night sit-in involving about 35 protesters.

Authors Philip Pullman and Mark Haddon were among those who took part in other events.