Hundreds of people are expected to descend on the town hall this evening to protest against cuts to public services.

Members of the major trade unions, including UNISON and Unite, will join a rally in Brixton organised by lobby group Lambeth Save Our Services, before councillors meet to discuss this year’s budget.

At the same meeting last year, protestors occupied the council chamber and shut the session down.

Protester Jeremy Dewar, a teaching assistant at a comprehensive school in the borough, said: “I've seen the effect of the cuts on the young people I work with, but this is nothing like what is going to happen.

“They have already closed down youth services. This year the budget for dealing with people with special educational needs will be halved.

“I think Lambeth is the cop out council for blaming the cuts on the Tories.”