A new support group for an historic library has attracted 1,250 members in its first three days.

The Friends of Hove Library was set up to campaign for its future as Brighton and Hove City Council decides whether it can be modernised or if it will have to be transferred to Hove Town Hall.

Friends convenor Christopher Hawtree said: "I gather this is unprecedented for such a civic body. People's love of the building is palpable, vocal. Good architecture really does inspire."

Last month, city councillors were being recommended to move the library to Hove Town Hall.

This was withdrawn for further consideration after a campaign to keep the library in Church Road was started by Mr Hawtree.

Committee member Boris Norman, a technical adviser in Europe, said: "Anybody who uses the library knows the deep affection in which it is held.

"I am delighted at the diversity of people who have joined. Among them is an architect who says there is absolutely no problem about installing a lift in the building.

"Many of them have remarked upon Andrew Carnegie's splendid gift in 1903 and all agree it is high time that a plaque was put up to honour him."

Mr Hawtree said: "The number of members who travel from Portslade is significant. This suggests the council should be giving its attention to boosting the branch libraries rather than to this misbegotten plan for Hove."

Liberal Democrats are calling for the Hove Library Working Group, which meets for the first time this week, to do so in public.

Group leader Paul Elgood said: "There is immense interest in this issue and the council should be seeking an open and transparent process."

He said the old King Alfred Task Group not only allowed public access to all of its meetings but also had a public question time.

He said: "We believe a top class library can be housed on the existing site. We are still not convinced that moving the site is in the best interests of Hove residents.

"I attended a conference in the rooms at Hove Town Hall to be assigned to the library.

"It's an excellent and relatively modern conference space which should be used more widely for its primary role as a meeting, event and conference venue - that is what it is designed for."