PLACARD-CARRYING protestors plan to embarrass a council by greeting guests arriving at its civic ball later this week.

Fitness fans will line up outside the Spectrum Leisure Complex, in Willington, on Friday night where government minister Clare Short is to speak at the £20-a-head event.

Wear Valley district councillors have already come under fire for going ahead with the civic ball, after voting for drastic cuts at the Spectrum last month.

Only eight of the centre's 25 workers will be kept on when its loss-making ski slope, squash courts, gym, bars and dance hall close in spring.

The 16 Unison members among the staff had hoped to stage their own protest on Friday by striking instead of helping with preparations for the ball, which raises thousands of pounds every year for the council chairman's chosen charity.

However, their branch executive rejected the workers' request on Monday, mainly because almost all have been found jobs in other departments.

Unison branch chairman Terry Richardson said: "We are working with the authority on a review of services, which is needed to save money.

"So far, everybody has jobs who wanted them, and we are very happy with that situation."

But protestor Clive Parker, from Crook, said: "There a lot of people who are very upset because they do not want to lose the facilities."

Last year, the council angered elderly and infirm tenants by voting to sack 22 resident wardens. It is also shedding ten posts by merging its housing management and direct works.

Council chairman Anne Newton cancelled her Christmas party following the cuts.

However, leader Olive Brown said there had been no question of the ball not going ahead.

She said: "It would be wrong to deny the chairman of the highlight of her year. It would be wrong to deny the money to the charities - which this year are breast cancer research and an eye laser appeal at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.