UNION members protested against public spending cuts ahead of a council meeting in Darlington last night.

Their placards included slogans "Con Dem'd" and "We've Been Pickled" in reference to the coalition Government and communities secretary Eric Pickles, who the unions believe are responsible for the cuts.

Bob Wood, Unison publicity officer, said: "People care about what is happening to the council. We are prepared to fight."

The unions continued their opposition to cuts being made in Darlington at the borough council cabinet meeting which followed.

The council intends to save £19.5m over the next four years; it will initially include the loss of 287 jobs and a range of services.

Council tax will not rise this year but proposals are for three per cent increases in the following three years.

Those at the meeting included ward councillors, staff, other union representatives, teenagers and campaigners.

Joe White, Unison branch secretary, said: "We have no faith that Darlington is safe in the hands of Mr Pickles and his colleagues. We are to put it bluntly well and truly pickled.

"The last few days he has demonstrated his inability to quote accurate figures. Once again we would suggest that he be invited to Darlington to explain why he believes that the cuts are necessary."

He added if services were being reduced, so should the number of councillors.

Those who spoke also included two teenagers, one of which was youth MP Ben Million, who said youth services were needed more than ever.

Shirley Winter, a local campaigner and member of Darlington Trades Union Council, cast doubts on David Cameron's Big Society.

"I'm not doing any voluntary work if someone else is on the dole queue because of it," she said.

Councillor Anne-Marie Curry, Liberal Democrat representative, said her party's regional body had written to Government to re-address the impact of cuts in the North-East. She added the council had previously mismanaged its funds.

Councillor Chris McEwan, resources portfolio holder, called her comments "bemusing and borderline disgraceful". He said the letter was "too little, too late" and the council was rated highly for its financial management.

No Conservative member spoke at the meeting.

The proposals will be finalised at a full council meeting on March 3.