COUNCIL leader Cllr Peter Charon came face to face with anti-cuts protesters before Tuesday night’s Special Council meeting to decide next year’s Council Tax.

Members of the Bournemouth and Poole Anti-Cuts Coalition had gathered outside Bournemouth Town Hall to protest against any cuts to services including day centres and jobs.

The group had draped Unison flags across the town hall wall and waved banners reading, "No cuts here" and "Stop the Cuts".

Many joined in an alternative version of the Dad’s Army theme singing: "Who do you think you are kidding Mr Pickles?" and blew horns and whistles.

Protester, Hazel Malcolm-Walker, said: "One thing that is going to happen is redundancies and cuts to day centres. We are doing our best to defend people who can’t defend themselves."

Mr Charon, told protesters that Bournemouth Council is "doing better than some others and not making those cuts".