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Any moves to save the youth service and the library in the Haverhill could involve the town council in some way.

Members last night agreed to register an expression of interest to Suffolk County Council, which is divesting itself of these services as part of its New Strategic Direction.

Yesterday the county council gave notification that the town's youth club will be closed and the youth workers have been told their jobs will go.

Haverhill Town Councillors were concerned this would mean there would not be enough staff to run the Glyders youth group which the town council funds alongside the youth club.

The county council has also invited anyone interested to put forward an idea to run their library in a new way, otherwise the majority of Suffolk's libraries will be closed.

It is not yet known whether Haverhill Library would be one of those earmarked for closure.

But town clerk Gordon Mussett told members that as the youth service and the library operated from the same building there might be economies to be made by the town council taking that over.

It would not mean the town council would run the services, which could end up being farmed out by the county council to some kind of community interest company on a non-profit-making basis.

But Mr Mussett said anto-social behaviour among young people figured highly among Safer Neighbourhood Team priorities as a result of the concerns of residents.

He suggested the town council shoul look at what is left of the youth service and at the redundant staff and see if there was anything it could take up.

Therefore it would make sense to register an interest in running the library as it was in the same building.

Labour group leader Cllr Maureen Byrne said they should be 'cautious' about seeming too keen. "We should not jump in with both feet on this one," she said.

Cllr Margaret Marks said she would not be keen to see the town council take on any more staff.

Cllr French windered if the town council alone would have the buying power needed to resource a library, but Mr Mussett said he expected other counties which were still running library services might be able to offer support at a good rate.

Cllr Alison Snape said the council should encourage the town's volunteers as much as possible. "Many town activities are run by sterling volunteers," she said, "and we should support the work they do."

Members agreed to register an expression of interest in the library and leave it at that until it was known whether or not Haverhill Library was one of those to be made available for a different system of running.