A COUNCIL meeting had to be stopped a number of times today because of disruption from protesters and comments from the public gallery.

Cambridgeshire County Council’s full council meeting to rubber stamp proposed cuts was met by dozens of protesters Unison members including council staff.

On a number of occasions police had to intervene and remove people from the chamber.

The meeting, which is expected to last into the evening, for councillors to agree the budget, is running behind schedule because of the many disruptions from the public gallery.

So far the leaders of each main parties have made their opening speeches and have been unable to start their debate.

Fiona Whelan, leader of the county’s Liberal Democrats, said: “Several times, we have stopped because of comments from the gallery.

“The chairman has ejected people with the help of police. It’s been stop start all morning.”

The meeting comes after similar scenes at County Hall in Norwich yesterday as Norfolk County Council set its budget in a meeting which lasted five hours.