Campaigners protested ahead of tonight’s cabinet meeting in opposition to proposals to close libraries.

Councillors were greeted by banners and a loudhailer as they arrived at Harrow Civic Centre for tonight’s cabinet meeting.

The meeting began with a minute's silence for council staff who had died during the past month before petitions were presented.

Scroll down to see footage of the protest

The first petition submitted to the council, made up of more than 5,000 signatures - along with 24 signatures from community groups, councillors and religious leaders in an open letter – was against the proposed closure of the Bob Lawrence library.

Presenting the petition, one campaigner said: “It is vital to the community that it [the library] is close by and easily accessible. It is extremely important we keep community centres like libraries, and keep their value.”

A six-year-old boy from Stag Lane School also submitted 140 letters from fellow pupils in objection to the closure of the library in Mollison Way, Edgware.

North Harrow library campaigners also presented their petition of 2,797 signatures, while a petition to save Rayners Lane library was also submitted to the Cabinet, with 734 schoolchildren signing and a further 1,555 adult signatories.

All three petitions will now be submitted to the next full council meeting.

Former Mayor Nana Asante added that the library consultation stated that Bob Lawrence library costs £150,000 a year to run.

In response, Councillor Sachin Shah gave a breakdown of the cost, which includes staff costs of £108,000, rent of £29,000, utility bills of £21,300 and £2,554 in business rates.

Conservative group leader Cllr Susan Hall asked Cllr Sue Anderson if she was happy with the standard of the library closure consultation, who responded by saying: “Obviously we have an online version and hard copies in all the libraries. We have conducted a number of drop in sessions in libraries- at these sessions, cllrs and officers have spoken to the people.

“We are very concerned about the impact with different groups in the borough.”