UNIONS threatened industrial action as hundreds of protesters took to the streets to demonstrate "unnecessary and cruel" job and service cuts.

Trade unions, council workers, campaigners, politicians and residents all took part in the anti-cuts demonstration in Brighton on Saturday afternoon with more taking part in Eastbourne.

Around 400 demonstrators marched from The Level to Brighton Town Hall where they called on the Labour council to resist Tory cuts from central government.

Unions bosses said they were prepared to take industrial action to defend jobs and service users.

Mark Turner, organiser for the GMB union in Brighton and Hove, said "it goes without saying we will as a trade union to protect our members' jobs and their services" and added the turnout for the protest was "heartening".

He added: "As an organisation we do not think the council and its officers have properly engaged with us in some of the cuts which have taken place.

"It has been hit and miss, they are in a bit of bother with us over cuts to park rangers and they are going to be in a bit of bother with us over cuts to street sweepers and housing support services."

Brighton and Hove City Council faces a £68 million funding gap over the next five years and The Argus previously reported 540 jobs could be axed.

Phil Clarke, secretary of the Brighton and Hove Trades Council, and protest organiser, said “The message from our protest was very clear, these Tory cuts are unnecessary and cruel.

"They are driven by a desire to shrink the state and privatise services.

"To protect our city we call on councillors to resist and campaign against these cuts as strongly as possible.”

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Warren Morgan said: ""It is the job of unions to represent their members, but everyone needs to join with us in taking the fight to Government, not the town hall."

Also on Saturday, a protest was held at Bankers Corner in Eastbourne against up to £90 million of cuts facing East Sussex County Council.

Rachel Verdin, organiser for the GMB in East Sussex, said: "We are here with a strong message to the county council, and that is to go back and rethink the proposals. We accept that savings have to be made but not by targeting the most vulnerable in society.

"The council’s chief executive is on a huge six-figure salary and we think that the six top officers at County Hall in Lewes should each have 20 per cent shaved off their salaries.