PARENTS and children have voiced their anger over "drastic" cuts to young people's services in Hull.

Dozens of people marched through the city centre to protest against the 32 per cent budget cut for children and young people's services.

Union officials claim the reduction is the biggest by any authority in the country and will lead to the loss of 720 jobs.

The Mail recently revealed how social workers in Hull believe the cutbacks could lead to the death of a child in the city.

Clutching tiny hand-painted signs, young children walked hand-in-hand with their parents during the hour-long march yesterday.

The placards bore slogans including: "Please don't take away all the help I've had" and: "Ruby says no".

Kayleigh Wells, of east Hull, was protesting in support of Sure Start centres, which her daughter Isabelle Vickers, three, has used.

She said: "We have used the centre on Estcourt Street and the one on the Ings estate. I think they are brilliant, they are really good.

"They are a great place to go and get advice and support, especially for young mums.

"Obviously, there needs to be cuts, but not as many as this and not to such vital services."

Victoria Marshall, 16, of west Hull, joined her parents Lee and Sue and siblings Leanne, 12, and Liam, 10, on the march.

She said: "I wanted to stand up for what I believe in, which is that these drastic cuts aren't fair. The younger generation are the ones who are going to suffer because of this.

"I want to go to university to become a forensic scientist, but I don't think it's right that I will have to pay £27,000 for it."

Darren Patton, 28, and his partner Kelly Smith, 24, receive daily visits from supported housing officers to help them raise their 23-month-old son Charlie.

Mr Patton said: "They started visiting us through social services and their help has meant we can keep Charlie and bring him up.

"They normally come to see us every day, but that isn't happening as much now because the cuts mean they are short-staffed.

"They have showed us how to budget, how to keep our house clean and tidy and they helped me to get a job as a cleaner.

"Without them, there would be no-one to help us."

Miss Smith added: "They have been so good to us. It has been a big help."

Nikki Osborne, Unison representative for the Connexions service, said the cuts will lead to higher levels of young people who are not in education, employment or training.

The city council service helped 13 to 19-year-olds make choices about employment, education and training, while providing advice on issues such as health, benefits and housing.

It once employed 100 advisors, but the majority of these are expected to be made redundant under proposals to reduce the size of the council's children's services department.

Mrs Osborne said: "Hull is already a black spot for youth unemployment and without the right support, advice and guidance for young people, that will skyrocket.

"That will mean higher levels of teenage pregnancy, alcohol and substance misuse, crime, antisocial behaviour and homelessness. The list goes on.

"We had around 1,000 young people through our doors every month and the council expect nine people to deal with that. They won't be able to."