More than 2,000 people have joined a campaign group to save Hove Library in the week since it was first launched.

The Friends of Hove Library want it to be retained in the building at Church Road, where it has been for almost a century, rather than moved to the banqueting room at Hove Town Hall.

The shift is being considered by a working group of Brighton and Hove City Council because of the cost of modernising the Church Road building.

Friends committee member Boris Norman said: "When we began this I knew it was something people would feel passionately about but we had no idea how many people it would attract. What is clear already is how much people love this library."

Friends' convenor Christopher Hawtree said a recent inspection had revealed a dumb waiter previously used for books and serving three floors. It might be possible to convert this into a lift.

Central Hove Tory councillor Averil Older said councillors should be able to see a full structural survey and carry out an inspection to see how the building could be adapted for disabled access.

She wonders whether the banqueting room would take the weight of several thousand books.