DEMONSTRATORS took to the streets outside Bury Job Centre on Wednesday, angry after managers banned their posters.

Volunteers from Bury Unemployed Workers Centre asked Job Centre to put up posters advertising free stress counselling for the jobless.

Alec McFadden, development officer at the UWC, said: "They have got a poster up for Alistair Burt MP advertising his surgeries, which I think is perfectly legitimate, but they wouldn't let us put our poster.

"We were approached by a professional counsellor who offered their services free, and it should be brought to the attention of the unemployed here in Bury, and what better place than the Job Centre?

Mr McFadden says there is a real need for the counselling service.

"Talking to people on the dole I know a lot are already receiving stress counselling on the advice of their doctors."

After continued refusal to allow the posters up, Mr McFadden and volunteers from the UWC "took the law into their own hands", as he put it, and inundated the Silver Street Job Centre with posters. They also set up stall in the street outside during Wednesday's event.

A spokesman for the Employment Service said that it was up to centre managers to decide what was an appropriate use of the "limited space" available.

"The purpose of the Job Centre is to put job seekers in touch with potential employers, and improving their chances of gaining work" said the spokesman. "And general advice is already offered to job seekers by Job Centre staff."

He added: "Any attempts to deface Job Centre premises with posters or stickers is to be condemned."

He said that medical problems such as stress would be better referred to GPs, rather than Job Centres.

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