An 84-year-old housebound Silsden woman has voiced her fears about the planned axing of a library lifeline.

A service that delivers books to Ailene Wade and to several hundred others faces closure under Bradford Council cuts.

Miss Wade, of Tillotson Street, said its loss would be a “massive blow”.

“They come every three weeks in a little van and bring some wonderful books – they know exactly what I like – but it’s about much more than just the books.

“The staff are lovely, friendly people, who go out of their way to please you, and it is a lifeline for me.

“I’m not able to get out now, and this service gives you contact with the outside world. Myself and a lot of other housebound people depend on it, and if it finished, it would be a huge loss.”

Miss Wade has written to the Council opposing the proposed scrapping of the provision, which is part of the mobile library service.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe (Lab, Windhill and Wrose), the Council’s portfolio holder for culture, employment and skills, said she had received letters and phone calls from elderly people stressing how valuable the service is to them, and she vowed their views would be listened to. But she said difficult spending decisions had to be made.