Villagers fighting to save three libraries in North Somerset from closure are to take their protests to town hall chiefs.

Campaigners battling to stop a move by the authority to close Banwell, Congresbury and Backwell libraries are to descend on its HQ in Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday to raise their concerns at a full meeting of North Somerset Council.

Congresbury parish councillors, residents and students from St Andrew's Primary School will be speaking at the meeting and handing over a 600 name petition.

The authority, which has 14 libraries and two mobile libraries, currently spends £2.6 million on library services each year and say the cuts will save £30,000 from council coffers.

Campaigners have vowed to fight on against the proposals despite the authority's powerful executive giving the closure plans the green light last month.

Protests have already taken place including a march, organised by Banwell Youth Council, to highlight the fact that people will have to travel two miles to the neighbouring village of Winscombe to use a library if the closure plan goes ahead.

Students from St Andrew's Primary School in Congresbury have launched their own petition against the cuts and have also designed posters urging people to pledge their support and put them up around the village.

Congresbury Parish Council chairman, Councillor Peter Sewell said: "I will be handing over a petition on behalf of the residents of Congresbury, which already has 600 names on it.

"The students at St Andrew's School have also been busy collecting signatures on their petition against the library closure.

"There is a lot of support to keep the library in the village open.

"The council says it is just closing a building and will continue to man the library service in the village.

"We believe that keeping the library in its current building is the most cost effective way of providing such a service."

The library closure issue is not on the agenda for Tuesday's full council meeting and the matter will next be discussed by the authority's community services policy and scrutiny panel next month before a final decision is taken.

Mr Sewell said: "We hope that the scrutiny panel will look again at the plans and put an alternative recommendation to the executive."

Representatives from both Backwell and Banwell are also planning to attend the meeting and speak against the proposed closure plan.

As part of the changes to the service, the authority plans to buy a new mobile library vehicle and restructure its routes to give priority to communities most in need.

In a report to the executive, it revealed that 95 per cent of households in North Somerset are within two miles of a library and 78 per cent are within one mile.

Councillors said that no closures would take place until alternative, more cost effective, arrangements were in place.

It is also possible that the libraries may move into other community buildings such as schools, childrens' centres or council run leisure centres.

North Somerset Councils spokesman Nick Yates said: "This is about improving the service and, while buildings may eventually close, we are looking at alternative provision and a more cost effective library service."