Dreams to create a co-operative bookshop to replace a closed store are fast becoming a reality.

Northcote Books is the brainchild of customers who used Bolingbroke Books, in Northcote Road, Battersea, which closed in April.

Plans are in place to set up a new bookshop in Northcote Library run as publicly limited company by people living in the community.

It is hoped the shop will be complimented with a café and would create more footfall to the library.

The campaign has recently been awarded £4,200 by the Big Society Fund and a committee will be issuing shares later in the year.

It will be ran with the motto of "by the community, for the community", with plans for author talks, workshops and educational events.

On July 6 campaigners ran a stall during the Northcote Road fête to publicise the idea and 200 people signed up.

The bookshop will hire a professional manager with a background in book-keeping who would be helped by volunteers.

Campaigner Viv Taylor-Gee, of Broomwood Road, Battersea, said: "There are so few bookshops around at the moment.

"To have one in our road, which is what we have had for 30 years, is a great thing. To lose that is a great loss really.

"We are hoping to reach out to all parts of Wandsworth that would like to support a community effort like this.

"The idea is that we will have a really good selection of books that will really please our customers."

Plans are in place to open the store by Christmas.