Renowned author Lynne Reid Banks will visit Hanwell Library on Saturday afternoon for a read-in in support of the campaign against library closures in Ealing.

Ms Reid Banks, who has lived in Ealing for many years, will hold three readings to children over eight through the afternoon at the event, which has been organised by Hanwell Community Forum Library Action.

The event will begin at 2.30pm and will also include an introduction to the ‘Save Hanwell Library’ campaign, including the opportunity to sign the petition against Hanwell Library’s closure, and a question and answer session.

Ms Reid Banks’ children’s novel, The Indian in the Cupboard, sold over ten million copies worldwide, and she wrote several successful sequels.

However, Ms Reid Banks, 81, was originally famous for her first novel, The L-Shaped Room, a kitchen-sink drama that became an acclaimed film.

She has written 40 books, including a fictional biography of the Bronte family, and over 20 children’s works, and was one of the first women in Britain to become a television news reporter.

Carolyn Brown, Chair of Hanwell Community Forum, said she was delighted that Ms Reid Banks was able to support the campaign to keep the library open.

"We are thrilled that a local author of such standing as Lynne Reid Banks has agreed to come along and read from her children's stories for us, in support of the 'Save Hanwell Library' Campaign,” she said.

"We hope that local people will bring their children and grandchildren to listen to Lynne read, and to demonstrate to the Council the importance of our local library both to our community in general, and to children from all socioeconomic backgrounds not just the lucky ones whose parents can afford endlessly to buy them books.”

Hanwell Community Forum Library Action hope to trigger a debate at Full Council with their petition (at http://www.gopetition.com/petition/44416.html) and are close to the required total of 1500 signatures.

Hanwell Library is one of a number of Ealing libraries under threat of closure following the council’s decision to try to make savings in the library service, and its subsequent public consultation, which closed two weeks ago.