Protesters against council cuts march through Bristol

The budget will be discussed at a full council meeting next week

Campaigners have gathered outside the council offices in Bristol ahead of the authority's budget meeting on Tuesday.

Police said about 500 people took part in the march from Castle Park to College Green to let the council know their views on cuts to services.

Protester Elizabeth Standen from the Bristol Disability Forum said she was concerned about the impact on people with disabilities' "quality of life".

The Liberal Democrat-led council said it "had to make the cuts".

'Services for vulnerable'

Ms Standen said: "We are particularly concerned about support to people with mental health issues, people with learning difficulties and older people and how the cutbacks will impact on their abilities to live independently and have a decent quality of life."

Liberal Democrat Councillor Jon Rogers said: "We're trying very hard to deliver reductions in the budget which we have to do because of the grant cuts from national government but at the same time protecting staff so we're not putting lots of people redundant and also services for the vulnerable."

The council announced in January it would cut 340 jobs during the next financial year as it has to save £28m.

It said current predictions showed it needed to save £70m, including this year's £28m, over the next four years.