DOZENS of workers at Hull’s Citizen’s Advice Bureau will march to the Guildhall today in protest against a decision to axe council funding.

As first reported in the Mail, Hull City Council has announced it is to cut its annual £700,000 funding to CAB next month.

Union officials say the centre - opposite Hull Central Fire Station - will have to close in weeks without the crucial funding.

Today, staff will take part in a protest march from the CAB building to the steps of the Guildhall, where the issue will be discussed during a full Hull City Council meeting scheduled for 2pm.

Sallie Charlton, a CAB adviser and spokeswoman for the union Unite, which is against the proposals, said: “About 40 staff will take part in the march and we are asking people who use our service to show their support too.”

Under plans, taxpayers’ money will go to the Legal Services Commission, which will have responsibility for creating a Community Legal Advice Centre (CLAC).

The Mail understands Sheffield-based A4E, a profit-making firm, is the “preferred bidder” for issuing a range of advice to clients.

Miss Charlton said: “Our main concern is that the service offered will be watered down. It seems likely a profit-making firm will be running this CLAC.

“Here at the CAB, which is partly run by volunteers, our team of advisers spend as much time as is needed on each client, whether that is a 40-minute chat or three hours it doesn’t matter.”

The city’s Labour Party was expected to put forward a motion calling for the views of area committees to be taken into consideration before the official winner of the bid is announced.