Unionists angry about cuts to public services are planning a protest in Charter Place.

Watford Trades Council is organising a May 1 rally, which will start at midday.

The action is part of a national campaign, which is expected to involve more than 270,000 civil servants around the county. Many are members of the public and commercial services union are set to take national strike action over privatisation, job cuts and the government pay freeze for low paid civil servants.

The rally is the first of its kind in the town for many years - on what used to be annual festival in support of trade unionism and international solidarity.

Watford borough councillors, Jagtar Dhinsa Singh (Labour) and Maria Green (Independent) will speak at the rally.

Local PCS representative, and Watford and District Trades Council secretary, Jon Gamble, said: "May Day is an ideal opportunity for trade unionists in Watford and elsewhere to send a warning shot over the bows of Gordon Brown. New Labour can expect more disruption if it continues with policies which harm the welfare state - the historic social achievement of post war Labour government. May Day is a time for public sector workers to stand up and declare that an injury to one, is an injury to all."