Victorian reading room in Bathurst Gardens was closed last year

Protesters are forming a united front outside Kensal Rise Library to stop it from being stripped of its books this morning.

Calls from supporters are being made via Twitter and Facebook as around 50 people gather to protect the Victorian reading room in Bathurst Gardens.

Sue Mackenzie, who headed up the libraries transformation project resulting in the closure of the branch and five others in the borough, is believed to be inside.

The drama started early this morning when vans turned up to empty the building which is owned by All Souls’ College in Oxford.

Campaigners sounded the alarm across Kensal Rise calling for people to come and protect their library which was opened by American author Mark Twain.

Jodie Gramigni, mother of two said: “They (the council) are removing the books on the last day before change of leadership.

“We have given them proposals. They could give it to us at a stroke of a hand and let us run it for the community for the children and the elderly.

“They insist to return it to All Souls College which does not want it.

“All Souls could sell it on to a developer and this could be lost to the community forever.”