Protesters occupy council chamber

ANTI-AUSTERITY protesters in London invaded a council meeting and forced councillors out of the chamber as £79m of cuts were due to be passed.

The Guardian reports: "More than 150 protesters have staged an occupation of Lambeth Town Hall after councillors were forced to move out of the official chamber and hold a vote on making cuts in private.

"Demonstrators ranging from trade unionists to pensioners occupied the chamber for more than an hour, taking their seats in what they called a 'People's Assembly' and listening to speeches from those opposed to cuts in services including libraries, adventures playgrounds and schools.

"Members of the Labour-run council, meeting to decide how to make £79m of savings over three years, had walked out of the meeting amid heckling from the public gallery by a number of people, who then joined the occupation in the chamber.

"There had been scuffles earlier as security guards tried to stop demonstrators outside the building attempting to enter."