Cutbacks campaigners want talks

Protesters have been campaigning against the cuts

Representatives from the Cyrenians homeless charity hope to plead directly to Aberdeen councillors to re-think the decision to cut funding.

The group, and others affected by recently-announced £27m budget cuts, want an opportunity to address the full council on Wednesday afternoon.

The Cyrenians face a drop of £900,000 which could force the closure of four projects at a cost of about 30 jobs.

Council leaders have expressed a willingness to hold talks.

Cyrenians chief executive Paul Hannan told BBC Scotland: "We need to talk directly to all the councillors, not just one or two, to ask them to think again."

Thousands of people marched through Aberdeen city centre on Saturday to protest against the cuts.

The Lib Dem/SNP council admitted difficult choices had to be made and blamed years of under-funding, but Scots Finance Secretary John Swinney blamed political rivals for the budget problems.

Spending watchdog, the Accounts Commission, will hold a public hearing into the council's finances later this year.