A MACHETE-wielding "Grim Reaper" played a funeral dirge as protests took place outside County Hall against social services cuts.

Phil Swarbridge had donned a robe and cowl as he set out loudspeakers that belted out Chopin's Piano Sonata No 2 - The Funeral March - outside the entrance to Worcestershire County Council's headquarters yesterday.

Mr Swarbridge gripped a machete as he spoke about the effects of the councils' "action plan", introduced during the summer to curb spending by the social services department.

"I want the council to realise how much impact this has had on the lives of Worcestershire's most vulnerable residents," said Mr Swarbridge, his face heavily veiled.

"Real people are suffering."

Mr Swarbridge, the co-ordinator of the service users' network for adults with learning disabilities, said his hours had been halved as a result of the action plan.

He was one of dozens of protesters who gathered to chant slogans and brandish placards as members of the council's executive committee met to hear an update on the funding crisis. Others carried baths and laundry, to highlight home care slashed under cost-cutting measures.

Inside the council chamber, councillors accused officers of failing to keep members informed as social services slid into deficit during the spring.

"Some people were aware of problems, while others were just given little pep talks," said Coun Peter Fallows, the chairman of a scrutiny panel set up to investigate how last year a deficit arose of more than £2m.

This summer senior officers warned of a possible £4.6m overspend by the end of 2000-2001 financial year and swiftly imposed cuts as a result.

"We set ambitious targets because we wanted to stretch people," said Worcestershire County Council's chief executive, Rob Sykes.

"But there are 21 fewer children in care than in September and children's services are now back on track. Reducing spending in adults' services is even harder, but at the end of September spending had levelled out."