SOUTHEND Council has approved budget cuts worth £11.8million over the next financial year.

In a fraught, five-hour meeting last night, the authority's political factions clashed over plans to scrap 120 jobs and slash funding for day care patients and the meals-on-wheels service.

The budget was eventually passed, with the controlling Tory party's leader, Nigel Holdcroft, criticising his rivals for failing to come up with alternative solutions.

He said: "This is my fifth budget and the behaviour of some you is, frankly, getting a bit pathetic now.

"I look forward to the day when we can have a proper budget debate with some alternative ideas being put forward, but all we have at the moment is party political point-scoring."

For the full report, get your copy of Monday's Echo.