A PROTEST in Halesowen town centre this weekend over the Government's controversial "bedroom tax" has been branded a success.

Labour members organised the protest in Somers Square on Saturday morning which garnered 200 signatures for a petition against the planned removal of the spare room subsidy.

Campaign organiser Stephanie Peacock said: “Local people are angry about this unfair policy, 1200 people across Halesowen and Rowley Regis will suffer, two-thirds of them are home to someone with a disability.

“At the same time a £100,000 tax cut is being given to millionaires, how many local people will that benefit?”

Halesowen North Labour councillor Hilary Bills enjoyed the protest and was delighted with the public's response.

She said: “In just 90 minutes more than 200 people signed the petition.

Few who signed were actually affected by the reduction in housing benefit owing to alleged under occupancy but were angry that the so called “tax” was causing so much unwarranted stress to the vulnerable in our society."

She added: "Those who signed wanted a stop to the unfair policy of demonising the poor whilst giving tax breaks to the millionaires.

"At one point people were actually queuing to sign.

"The Tory led government have already done another U-turn on armed forces families and foster parents, let’s hope they ditch the tax altogether.”

The Government last week announced they would exempt military families and foster carers from the benefit changes.