A ten-year-old schoolboyfrom Falmouth is preparing to debate local politicians as part of his campaign to save Cornwall’s libraries.

Leon Remphry, from Falmouth, has organised his own debate this Thursday, which will see local authors and councillors come together to discuss the importance of Cornwall’s libraries.

Already confirmed to attend are the councillor for libraries Adam Paynter, Councillor Fiona Ferguson, ex-Librarian Derek Toyne, and West Country based author Michael Morpurgo.

He started his campaign in July after he discovered that funding cuts meant that the opening hours of libraries across the county will be slashed.

His petition, set up on the 38 Degrees website, now has over 5,700 signatures.

Leon handed in the petition to Cornwall Council in September but the council initially refused to hold a council debate - as is the normal procedure with a 5,000-strong petition.

Leon says: “These library cuts have to be stopped. Libraries are the only places where you can sit down and read, take out a book, discover a new author – libraries are where I get inspiration for my own stories and it has been proven that reading makes you cleverer.”

The debate will be held at King Charles School Western Terrace, Falmouth, at 2pm.