Community centre users have pledged to fight spending cuts which have left the future of the venue in jeopardy.

Westfield Community Centre, in Hinckley, will lose a £140,000 grant under the county council budget, which will see the authority make £66m in savings over the next four years.

More than 100 people attended a protest meeting at the centre against the council's plans, which also include cuts to bus services, libraries and the sale of care homes.

They fear the community centre will be unable to survive without the council funding, and want the authority to change its plans.

Centre manager Dave Roberts said: "The contribution this centre makes to keeping people well, safe, secure, healthy, developing and happy is absolutely immeasurable.

"It is the economics of a madhouse to cut £140,000 and lose that sort of contribution."

This year County Hall handed £291,420 to 11 community centres, across Leicestershire, including Westfield, but the new budget ends this support. Thursday's protest meeting was arranged by local Liberal Democrats and the Pensioners Action Group and took place a day after the county council agreed its budget.

Liberal Democrat county and borough councillor David Bill said: "We know that finances are tight but there has to be a better solution."

Labour party supporter Rupert Herd said: "It would be a tragedy if it closed."

Bosworth's Conservative MP David Tredinnick has also called on the council to shelve any plans which threaten the community centre.

Tory county councillor David Sprason – who supported the budget – said the county council would work with the Westfield manager and Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council to access grants.

"There will be a solution and Westfield won't close," he said.

At Wednesday's full council meeting, which approved the budget, county council leader David Parsons said no-one wanted to make service cuts, but the authority had to live within its means.