Dressed all in black, top hat-wearing funeral marchers proceeded down Barnet’s streets on Saturday to mourn the “death” of the borough’s public services.

Following a makeshift hearse with the words “public services” written out in flowers and a coffin fixed on top, protestors against privatisation set off from Sainsbury’s car park in Finchley Road, Golders Green and marched to High Barnet.

The protest followed outsourcing and professional services company Capita taking over the running of some of Barnet Council’s back office services, including human resources, finance, payroll and IT, as part of the One Barnet programme.

Barnet Council insist Capita’s contract, which began on Sunday (September 1), will save the taxpayer millions of pounds over the next 10 to 15 years.

Co-ordinator of Barnet Alliance for Public Services, which organised the march, Pirza Waisel, said: “We spoke with many residents who could tell us about the evils of privatisation from first hand experience.

“The fight isn’t finished yet. It’s an ongoing campaign and we will not stand still.”