Before it was announced that Thurrock libraries had been saved, wheelchair-bound Vera Plumridge collected 168 petition names against the closures from her house. Here's why the library service is so important to her...

A WHEELCHAIR-BOUND and housebound piano teacher has gathered more than 160 signatures in the fight to save Thurrock libraries.

Vera Plumridge, of Bridge Road, Grays, collected 168 names from her house by asking visitors to her home to sign her home-made petition forms.

She said: “It wasn’t difficult because everyone who comes for a piano lesson helped out.

“I just don’t want to lose the library at Thameside. It’s so important to lots of people. For me, it’s a lifeline and I don’t know what I’d do without it.

“I couldn’t afford to buy these books and I think a lot of people are in a similar position to me.”

Mrs Plumridge’s petition joins one organised by the Save Our Thurrock Libraries group, which has collected 3,148 signatures in support of saving libraries under threat as part of a £500,000 costcutting plan by Thurrock Council.

Last week, comic-cum-campaigner, Grays-born Russell Brand, spoke exclusively to the Gazette and backed our campaign to keep the libraries open Mrs Plumridge, who is 86 and has been teaching piano for 72 years, still teaches ten lessons a week.

She started her career by charging 9d an hour when she was 14.

Mrs Plumridge also organises a music concert every year at the Thameside Theatre in aid of musicians’ charities.