Lord Mayor's thanks after £250k raised for fire-hit library

Lord Mayor Richard Kemp told Alex McCormick she had played a major part in helping the library

A woman who led a fundraising campaign to help rebuild a Liverpool library that was torched during rioting has been formally thanked by the city's Lord Mayor.

Alex McCormick set up the online fundraiser, which has brought in more than £250,000, after Spellow Library was set on fire during disorder that broke out on 3 August.

Councillor Richard Kemp welcomed her to Liverpool Town Hall on Thursday to thank her on behalf of the city.

Ms McCormick, from Netherton, said it was "an honour" to be recognised and thanked everyone who had donated money and books to the campaign.

"It's absolutely wonderful - beyond what I ever imagined would come from starting a fundraiser," she said.

"Seeing that a library and community space had been damaged really just broke my heart. It made me feel angry."

Spellow library was left gutted by the blaze

The library was targeted as widespread unrest broke out in towns and cities across England following the Southport attack in which three young girls were killed.

Mr Kemp said people's efforts in helping the library had “really captured the imagination of the people of Liverpool".

After inviting Ms McCormick for afternoon tea, he told her: “You have played a major part in that.

"I am extremely grateful and say this on behalf of the whole council, for that initiative that you took.

"This is a place that is very important in one of the poorest parts of one of the poorest constituencies in England. Poor in money but perhaps one of the greatest places in community spirit."

Generosity

Ms McCormick, who got married just days after the fundraiser was launched, said she wanted to "give a little bit back" and had initially set a target to raise £500.

"Seeing people's generosity and people's comments, it goes to show that the good will always outweigh the bad," she said

"And people really rally round something good like a library and a community centre. We need those spaces."

She said the fundraiser had seen donations from around the world including USA, Canada and Dubai.

The campaign also saw donations of books to the library, which Ms McCormick said would be spread out to other libraries and community centres.

Additional reporting by the Local Reporting Democracy Service