CAMPAIGNERS in Bolton have welcomed a High Court ruling on “unlawful” library closures Gloucestershire and Somerset.

A judge in London quashed restructuring plans which had been proposed by Somerset County Council and Gloucestershire County Council in an attempt to make cash savings.

It is the third time in a few days the High Court has struck down controversial bids by financiallysqueezed councils to cut costs.

Each time judges have ruled the councils made legal errors and sent them back to the drawing board.

Ian McHugh of Save Bolton Libraries Campaign said: “We welcome the High Court ruling and call upon Bolton Council to reconsider its own planned closure of one third of our library network.”

Bolton Council will close five libraries next year — Astley Bridge, Highfield, Oxford Grove, Castle Hill and Heaton.

Council chief executive Sean Harriss said: “We keep in touch with the High Court rulings and our view is there is nothing in the latest rulings that change our confidence that our approach to libraries has been robust, appropriate and in line with all the relevant legislation.”