CAMPAIGNERS are calling on the Government to end the drastic cuts to a local authority in a bid to save services and avoid "Council Kerplunk”.

Unison has launched a campaign and petition to persuade the Government to end its funding cuts to Darlington Borough Council.

The union also wants ministers to address what it claims is an unfair level of financial support for the town compared with the rest of the country.

The cash-strapped local authority announced it must make £14m of savings throughout the next three years, with council officials warning residents “nothing is sacred”.

More than 500 jobs have gone at the authority over the last three years, with 73 posts going in the most recent round of cuts.

The cuts have already led to services, including the town’s Arts Centre, closing down, with residents being warned the authority may be forced to provide only the statutory services, spelling the end of facilities the public takes for granted.

Bob Wood, vice chair of Unison's local government branch in Darlington, said: “The services that Darlington Council provides have shown to be very good value for money, but with less staff and less money, these services are not going to be provided at the same standard, or even provided at all.

“We need to send a strong message to the Government that we can’t take another £14m worth of cuts.

“There is this idea that we have to cut council budgets to solve the financial crisis, which the councils didn’t create. Why should Darlington pay for the tax dodging millionaires and bankers who actually caused this financial crisis?”

The situation has been dubbed “Council Kerplunk” by Unison, which says services will come "crashing down" if the authority continues to cut jobs.

Darlington Borough Council leader, Bill Dixon, said: “I sympathise completely with them - we do provide first class services but these services simply won’t be there anymore.

“The reality is we have been given our budget and we have to live within it. It seems all the people running the banks and the people who have got us into this mess are still giving themselves huge bonuses and it is our residents who are being affected by these cuts.”

To sign the petition visit darlingtonsos.info