This morning a group of students and local residents blockaded the County Council in protest against the government’s proposed spending cuts to councils of £84m.

The activists blockaded the road entrance to the council building using traffic cones, tape and a wall of protestors. This stopped councillors and employees driving into work.

During the meeting, however, one member of the public called for councillors to consider the impact of the cuts on disabled people, followed by another who called for councillors against the cuts to take a stronger stance. Amidst jeering from the public gallery, the Chairman Cllr Linda Oliver ordered the heckler to be ejected.

Prior to the ejection a policeman's hat was thrown from the gallery, after which the meeting was adjourned as the interruptions continued. A protestor was later arrested for breach of the peace.

Kristine James was present at the arrest and said, "It felt as if the voices of the public were being completely ignored. Those councillors are supposed to represent me, but I feel like they have their own agenda."

The organisers of the protest, Cambridgeshire Against the Cuts, said in a press release, “As the group stood at the road entrance, several cars beeped their horns in support as they passed.”

Those taking part in the protest included students, youth workers, mental health practitioners, teachers, university workers and parents.

After blockading the entrance, the protestors moved to picket the main entrance to the Shire Hall. Holding banners, they then proceeded to question councillors about their stance on the cuts.

The protest was held today as this is the day when Councillors are due to vote on the package of spending.

One of the protestors, Tom Hanney, a PhD student at Pembroke College, said, “Councillors should resign rather than agree to such unfair and poorly thought-out proposals.

“We are continuing to fight after seeing the devastating attack on university research and teaching, because these public sector cuts are all part of the same regressive agenda.”

The proposed cuts risk 450 redundancies and also threaten local services.

Another protest organised by Unison is due to take place at the council building today.