AN AWARD-winning musician has thrown his support behind the campaign to save Unsworth Library.

Guy Garvey, lead singer and guitarist of indie band Elbow, has spoken of his shock upon finding out about the proposal.

He has urged library users to make their feelings clear at the next meeting of Whitefield and Unsworth Local Area Partnership on January 24.

Guy, aged 36, was made Freeman of the Borough last year, said: “When I found out about this proposal I was completely shocked.

“I grew up in Hollins and, every Saturday morning, me and my friends used to cross over the golf course and head straight to the library.

“We would spend two hours in there, reading things like The Adventures of TinTin books and other story books.”

Elbow formed when Mark Potter met Guy at Stand College in 1990 and they linked up with Mark’s brother Craig, drummer Richard Jupp and bassist Pete Turner.

They have since released four albums, the most successful of which was Mercury Prize-winning record The Seldom Seen Kid, which came out in 2008.

Guy, who now lives in Prestwich, added: “For me, libraries are one of the few public places where you can dream. As a musician, the ability to dream is hugely important. How else can you be creative?

“It may be that these current times mean austerity measures have to be taken, but closing this library would mean that it would cost millions of pounds to reopen it. It would be a terrible loss. Closing the library would be the wrong choice, but I have faith that the council will make the right decision. If people feel strongly about this, they can attend the meeting on January 24 and say what the library means to them.”