Cllr Paul Lorber will be running 60km over seven days to raise funds for campaign

A politician will be undertaking a marathon challenge in aid of one of the borough’s axed libraries this month in what would have been its diamond jubilee year.

Cllr Paul Lorber, leader of the Brent Liberal Democrats, will be running 60km over seven days to raise funds for the axed building, in Harrow Road.

The challenge, which he will be undertaking alongside former Lib-Dem councillor Peter Corcoran, will begin on May 30 and culminate in Barham Park on June 5 where residents will be honouring the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, which ties in with the 60th anniversary of the buildings opening.

Barham Library was shut down last year alongside five other reading rooms in the borough and campaigners have fought tirelessly since to try to have it re-opened.

The move to shut down Cricklewood, Barham, Kensal Rise, Neasden, Tokyngton and Preston library will save the local authority �1m.

Any money raised from the running challenge will also go towards funds which might be needed if campaigners plan to rent the former library building alongside new books for the temporary “pop-up” library in nearby Danethorpe Road.

Cllr Lorber said: “Friends of Barham Library are determined to get the Library in Barham Park reopened so that it can once again serve local people.

“The success of the Volunteer Library opened recently at Barham School shows the need for a local library to serve local people of all ages.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor Paul Lorber and donate to Friends of Barham Library should email: barhamlibrary@hotmail.co.uk or download a gift aid form at www.barhamlibrary.wordpress.com