UNION bosses say staff are fearing the worst over county council cuts - and insist they are working closely with the politicians to try and safe as many jobs as possible.

As your Worcester News revealed yesterday, the jobs axed are certain to top 600 by 2017, taking the workforce size to below 3,000 for the first time ever.

Jim Price, from Unison, said he was concerned the true figure could end up hitting 800.

“People are fearing the worst about their futures, and my worry is that I can’t see there being a massive difference whatever Government wins the next election,” he said.

“The truth is that morale is at rock bottom. There is a certain amount of anger because some people are suggesting the council services will get better with fewer people.

“Some people in a job will want to go, but many people won’t, so it’s a grim situation.

"We are doing everything we can to help.”

Leader Councillor Adrian Hardman says he is meeting with the unions monthly, and plans to make it more regular over the coming weeks.

The saga was also debated in a full council meeting today, where Liberal Democrat group deputy leader Coun Tom Wells said it was “draconian”.

“I do worry about some of the services we are withdrawing and the impact that could have on people’s mental health,” he said.

“Things like the mobile library service will matter to some people. We have to be very careful.”

The main area being offered protection is children’s care, where 30 extra social workers are being recruited to help beef up the service.