It may be freezing cold in Maidstone this morning, but that is not stopping protesters gathering outside County Hall.

They have come from across Kent to voice their anger over planned cuts to local services.

County councillors arriving for their budget committee meeting were being greeted by a raft of banners and slogan-chanting placard-wavers.

The protest is a joint venture by a number of groups, including Maidstone Momentum, the Unite union, and relatives of residents at KCC’s four care homes that are under threat of closure - including the Dorothy Lucy Centre in Maidstone.

A coachload of parents angry at the planned closure of the Pent Valley School at Cheriton near Folkestone have also joined the demo.

Unite is calling for an immediate reversal of continuing government cuts to council budgets, which fund much needed services such as schools, libraries, street cleaning.

Branch secretary Eric Segal said: “These budget cuts driven by a Tory government will have an adverse effect on much needed essential services.

“Unite is also supporting the ‘Save Pent Valley School’ campaign organised by parents and pupils. We believe that with the right level of investment the school could be returned to a top performing education centre.”

Dan Wilkinson, from Momentum, said: “We want KCC to leave our front-line services alone.

“There are also threats to HMRC offices, Surestart Centres and mobile library services.

“There is to be an increase in the already expensive Kent Freedom Pass for schoolchildren, plus an extra 2% on our Council Tax.

“This is a long list, but if we don’t fight it, it will be just the start of many more cuts.

“It’s time to say enough is enough!”

Kristine Knight's mother Hazel Walker is 89 and relies on the Dorthy Lucy Centre, in Northumberland Road, Maidstone.

She said without the centre either her or her sister would have to give up work to care for Mrs Walker.

She added: "The closure would change our lives. My mum was cared for by my dad for six years until he passed away last year. She's a very sociable person and the centre has been great for her and allowed her to interact with people."

Maureen Cleator, of Hilary Road, Maidstone, is opposed to cuts to mental health services in west Kent.

County-wide restructuring of the way services are delivered has meant KCC's budget for the region will be sliced by 25%, with other areas, such as Thanet, getting more.

The member of the Maidstone Labour Party said the authority were "robbing Peter to pay Paul."

She added: "We have no indication of what services will be retained and while Shaw Trust's aim of getting people back in to work is laudable, many people suffering from mental illness are unable to work.

"We are in a position where people may be left with absolutely no support while the transition between providers is taking place."

Following the demonstration, protesters headed to St Faith's Church Hall to listen to speeches from a number of leading lights in the anti-cuts movement.