Harrow Borough Council says it is protecting more than £1milllion of voluntary sector funding in its draft budget.

It responded as a petition with nearly 2,000 signatures is due to be handed in to the council's cabinet tomorrow.

Campaigners have raised concerns over cuts to the voluntary sector funding in the coming years that they say will hit the most vulnerable people in the borough.

The council's cabinet member for community and culture Sue Anderson said: “The Conservative government is imposing £75m of cuts on Harrow Council and our residents over the next four years.

“Local charities are run independently of the council; our responsibility is to make sure that the money we spend is to the greatest benefit of all our residents.

“So despite these cuts we are protecting £1.2m of voluntary sector grants for the good work they do in the community, and the valuable services they provide.

“We will be working with them over the coming months to make sure these grants are used as efficiently and effectively as possible given the scale of savings we have to make.”