A crowd of more than 150 people turned out in Oxford today to call for an end to council cuts, including the proposed closure of children's centres across the county.

David Cameron's aunt Clare Currie, 78, was among those who gathered at about 11am outside the Clarendon Building in Broad Street.

The group then marched to Bonn Square, near Oxfordshire County Council’s headquarters in New Road.

People taking part are calling on the local authority to abandon more than £69m of spending cuts, which would scrap mobile libraries, bus subsidies and children’s centres, as well as reduce funding for the arts, homeless support, road gritting, elderly day services and support for carers.

Speaking at the demonstration Ms Currie, from Oxford, said: "I am here to protrest against all of the cuts - I think they are a big mistake.

"I would like the county council to change its mind about making such huge cuts.

"This is going to hurt everybody, particularly people who do not have enough in the first place."

thisisoxfordshire:

Protestors march through Cornmarket Street

Mr Cameron's mother, Mary Cameron, 81, earlier joined her sister Mrs Currie to sign a petition calling for the Conservative-led county council to abandon plans to shut 44 children's centres.

Husband and wife Mark and Natalie Jones from Rose Hill, were among those at the protest with Mrs Jones's guide dog Sidney.

The couple, who are partially sighted, marched to highlight the impact cuts to bus subsidies could have.

Mr Jones, 29, said: "We have come today because we want to support the protest, it is important to us.

"If we lose our buses the only way for us to go shopping is to go into Oxford by taxi.

"But there are local shops in Cowley which we could like to get the bus to and support.

"I would like to see the council save these services."

thisisoxfordshire:

Protestors start to gather at the Clarendon Building this morning.

On Thursday it emerged that the county council is in talks with district, town and parish councils to secure alternative funding, which could save more than 30 centres, with at least 11 guaranteed to stay open until April 2017.

Save Oxfordshire’s Children’s Centres campaign leader Jill Huish said: "We want to gather everyone who is campaigning against the many cuts being proposed, because they are going to hit some very vulnerable people.

"If we campaign together our voices can be louder.

"Everyone who wants to oppose the cuts should come down and make it clear that Oxfordshire is saying no."

Councillors are due to hold a full meeting of the county council on Tuesday, when they will be asked to approve the budget.

On top of the £69m of savings proposed, the council has already had to plan more than £290m in cuts since 2010.

Tuesday’s budget meeting will start at 10am, with campaigners also expected to protest outside County Hall.