Clegg's Home Targeted By Anti-Cuts Protesters

Hundreds of anti-austerity campaigners have staged a "street party" protest outside Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's house in southwest London.

Mr Clegg was not at his home in Putney, where at least 200 activists gathered.

Tim Street, from UK Uncut, said: "Politicians are disrupting our lives, so now we are disrupting theirs."

Superintendent Raj Kohli said the protest had been "good-natured" and there had been no arrests. He said: "It's obviously annoying for the people that live here."

The campaigners began leaving the area from around 6pm.

Peter Coville, from the Occupy protest group, said: "It's been a real success. We came here to have fun and send a message to the Lib Dems."

Simon Hope, who brought his four-year-old daughter to the protest, said: "The Government is trying to use the jubilee next weekend to distract people from the cuts and the tough times people are facing and as a national sedative.

"I think that it's vital that we take direct action against the cuts."

Conservative MP Louise Mensch came out in Mr Clegg's defence, taking to Twitter to call the demonstration "intolerable bullying".

A spokesman for Mr Clegg said: "People have a right to peaceful protest."

The demonstration was one of 11 "alternative" street parties around the country organised by UK Uncut in what the group says will be a series of protests in the lead-up to the Olympics and next weekend's jubilee celebrations.

UK Uncut was set up at the end of 2010 to protest against the coalition Government's public sector cuts.

Some of its most high-profile actions to date include targeting Vodafone stores over claims the company avoided tax and Topshop over the tax arrangements of owner Sir Philip Green.

Last year the group was involved in occupying exclusive department store Fortnum & Mason during the March 26 anti-austerity protests.