Campaigners have warned Barnsley Council it would be 'foolish' to ignore the views of more than 1,000 people who voted against the demolition of Barnsley Central Library.

It comes after votes from the 'People's Alternative Library Referendum' held by Save Our Library campaigners were counted and only 14 of the 1,151 votes casted wanted to see it flattened.

They used a sealed ballot box for people to vote 'yes' or 'no' to the proposed demolition of the Shambles Street building early next year to make way for a new £17m sixth form college.

Campaigner Dave Gibson said the idea behind the referendum was to give people the chance to answer a question the council's library consultation doesn't - 'Should Barnsley Council demolish the central library?'.

He said: "It's all library users that have voted and that's why we did it outside the library for people coming in and out and to get the opinion of those who use the library.

"At last Thursday's consultation meeting, Steve Houghton (council leader) was at great pains to say this is not a referendum and just because it might yield a big majority against the demolition doesn't mean the council will change course.

"But he did say he would listen, very carefully, to what people are saying and I think 1,137 saying no to the demolition is quite outstanding.

"That's as well as a petition which has 6,000 signatures on it in just three weeks. "The council would be very foolish to ignore it."