HUNDREDS of people joined a march through Bristol in protest against cuts to disability benefits and services.

On foot, riding mobility scooters, in wheelchairs and with guide dogs, at least 200 set off from College Green to demonstrate their anger. By the time they returned for a rally, numbers had grown.

Bristol was chosen for the South West regional day of action, bringing people with long-term conditions from as far away as Cornwall to the city.

They fear cuts to essential benefits, such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Employment and Support Allowance, will have a major impact on their lives, on top of cuts to local care and support services.

The nationwide Hardest Hit campaign has the support of more than 50 organisations, including Bristol-linked national charities CLIC Sargent and the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Andy Rickell, director of the Vassall Centre in Fishponds, opened the rally next to the Occupy Bristol camp of people protesting against corporate greed and the current political system.

He said: "This Government promised to protect the most vulnerable but we are being hit hardest by the cuts to benefits and services we need to lead our lives.

"We will not sit back quietly while these cuts are made. We want our dignity and our independence."

Mr Berry said: "The cuts are entirely unnecessary, unfair and unacceptable."

Among speakers at the rally were Labour's Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy and the party's former Kingswood MP Roger Berry, a past co-chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Disability Group at Westminster. Bristol South MP Dawn Primarolo also took part in the march.

Marilyn Lant, 52, travelled from Exeter with her guide dog, Mo, and was assisted by Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) volunteer Robert Willis, of Bedminster.

She said that without the DLA she would be less independent. It also helped cover the expenses of the RNIB volunteers.

Karen Rose, 49, of Yate, was with a group from Parkinson's UK. She said: "I struggled to do the march because of my legs but was OK after taking my medication. No day is the same with Parkinson's – no two hours are the same – and people don't see the hours it takes to get ready in the morning and the number of tablets we have to take.

"We would rather have a job than Parkinson's but our symptoms can make it difficult to work. It's terrible how we're being put through tests to decide if we can get benefits or not."

Bob Hand, 59, of Downend, has had Parkinson's for six years. He said: "Disabled people are such an easy target."

Alison Morgan, 50, of Nailsea, and Dinah Lake Lloyd, 53, of Backwell, represented Backwell Access Group. They completed the march in their wheelchairs and said they were cheered along by drivers tooting their car horns.

Dinah said: "It was quite moving. Often we are made to feel like benefit scroungers. We can't go and camp outside St Paul's Cathedral but could come here."

Alison said: "A lot of people who aren't as fortunate as myself to have family and support must be very frightened and scared. We are here to support vulnerable people who will be hardest hit by the cuts."

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said the Government was committed to supporting disabled people but the current benefit system did not always reach those who needed it most.

He said a new Personal Independence Payment would ensure people got the right level of support.