Protesters march in Nottingham over spending cuts

The campaigners included teachers, students and people with disabilities

Hundreds of protesters have held a rally in Nottingham city centre to protest against public spending cuts.

The campaigners, including trade union members, housing association tenants and students, marched from Forest Recreation Ground to the market square.

They claim workers and service users are unnecessarily paying the price for the banking crisis.

Police at the scene said about 600 people attended, but protesters said as many as 1,500 were there.

The city and county authorities are both looking to save millions of pounds to meet government funding cuts of 25%.

Nottinghamshire County Council is reducing its budget by £150m over three years - with up to 3,000 posts at risk - while the city council needs to make savings of about £25m per year.

The protest was organised by the Notts Save Our Services campaign.

The protesters said bankers should pay the price for the financial crisis

Liam Conway, the Secretary of Notts National Union of Teachers (NUT), said: "The government is picking on the most vulnerable people in society to make their £80bn worth of cuts over the next four years - pensioners, the unemployed, the disabled, people on benefits and the public sector workers who serve them.

"Meanwhile the richest 1,000 people in Britain increased their wealth last year by a staggering £80bn - an exact match to the cuts.

"We say pick on the rich and powerful, sequestrate the Rich List's £80bn and expand public services."

Campaigners fighting the planned closure of Gedling School were among those who attended the rally.

The county council has announced proposals for a phased closure of the specialist science college following a review of pupil places in the area.