ANTI-CUTS campaigners have tonight sent out a plea for York's politicians to ensure the funding fears of vulnerable people in the city are driven home in Parliament.

Disabled people, carers and care workers gathered outside the Mansion House ahead of a full meeting of City of York Council to voice their anger at Government spending reductions which they claim will leave many residents isolated and at risk.

They called on councillors to ask York MPs Hugh Bayley and Julian Sturdy to challenge the "unfair and unsound" cuts to areas such as the city's Supporting People grant and some care services in the House of Commons, claiming disabled and vulnerable people will be "disproportionately affected".

The campaigners submitted a petition on the issue containing 1,400 signatures at a February meeting when the council's 2011/12 budget, earmarking £21 million in savings, was decided.

Mental health campaigner Ceri Owen told councillors: "Despite your best efforts, it has not been possible to prevent cuts to services for vulnerable people, and that is why you have to tell our MPs that this is not right."

The council has said its planned expenditure on adult social care has avoided mainstream services being affected and funding reductions will have "minimal impact", while it also managed to bring the 48 per cent Supporting People grant cut originally imposed by the Government down to a 13.3 per cent, a loss of about £739,000.

* For the full story, see The Press on Friday.