A MAJOR protest is being planned in Worcester over the controversial bedroom tax - with furious campaigners planning to pack a city centre car park and sleep rough.

Activists are organising a huge protest, mainly via social networking site Facebook, for disgruntled people to sleep outside for one night to highlight the plight they are in.

The event, dubbed the Mass Sleep Out, is taking place at the city’s Croft Road car park on Saturday August 24.

Around 80 people have been invited to attend it on Facebook just within the last 24 hours, and have been asked to bring friends and family with them, raising the prospect of a large turnout.

As of today it has also garnered 1,700 'likes' on the social networking site.

The protestors say their aim is to raise more awareness among the general public about the housing benefit reduction, which came into force in April.

It has also received the backing of senior figures within Worcester City Council’s Labour leadership - which says it backs a “peaceful protest”, despite the disruption it could cause.

Noel Kennedy, the organiser, said: “Everyone is invited, no matter what race, colour, religion or any other defining category.

“We are all in this together, it can affect anyone of us at anytime.

We need each others support.”

The organisers are taking major precautions to ensure it passes peacefully, and have taken advice from West Mercia Police.

The Facebook advert asks attendees to take minimal equipment, like a sleeping bag, and walk away from any conversations with the general public that get heated.

People are also being asked to not bring alcohol with them, and take any litter home to avoid leaving the car park a mess.

It also encourages people to make use of the McDonald’s in Worcester city centre, and tells people public toilets are nearby.

The protest comes a day after the High Court rejected claims from disabled families that the bedroom tax is unlawful.

Councillor Roger Berry, the city council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “I welcome a peaceful protest because clearly, this is an extremely serious policy which is affecting many people.

“We are already seeing the costs in Worcester in terms of people getting into housing arrears.

“Are we really saying, as a society, that grandparents shouldn’t have their grandchildren stay over?”

The bedroom tax in Worcester has affected around 800 people, including Doug Padgett, a Falklands veteran, who lives in Hathaway Close, Dines Green.

The 56-year-old, who is £200 in debt already, said: “I don’t want to leave my home - it’s that simple.”

Worcester MP Robin Walker said: “It’s ironic the Labour city council supports this while their colleagues in Westminster are now saying welfare reforms are not tough enough - they’ve no credibility on this.

“I have nothing against a peaceful protest.”

* The protest will start from 6pm, and run until 9am the following day.