A public sector protest march of more than 3,500 people has taken place in Brighton and Hove without any major incident.
People young and old banged drums, waved flags and banners, and listened to music from a stage set up on The Level.
From there they marched through the streets to Hove Town Hall for a rally highlighting discontent at government plans to raise pension contributions and increase the retirement age.
One banner read: "2,4,6,8, I'm not teaching that late." Another stated: "Gove, be a love, go back to school on this one."
Earlier, teachers, lecturers and civil servants attended picket lines outside schools, courts, public offices and buildings as many passing motorists beeped their horns.
The members were from the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Public and Commercial Service (PCS) unions.
The NUT said 95% of schools were closed in Brighton and Hove, with dozens of pupils and students who missed classes joining teachers and lecturers at The Level.
Luke Stanger, 18, a University of Sussex politics and international relations student, said: "It's important that we unite and fight as many of the party actions as possible.
"Teachers have contributed to society for their whole lives and have done their bit for society. They deserve what they have earned throughout their careers.
"It seems to me that the people who have caused the public spending crisis, such as the bankers, are not being punished but teachers are."
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