A PROTEST organised by UK Uncut in St Albans on Tuesday afternoon failed to inspire the big turnouts seen in other parts of the country.

Despite an urgent call on social networking site Twitter, only three women turned out for the protest and two of them left the scene after refusing to appear in any photos when the Herts Advertiser photographer arrived.

The demonstration, which started at 1pm and involved leaflets being handed out, was outside the Vodafone shop in St Peter’s Street and the police officers and PCSOs in the area that turned up in case there was any mass demonstration were not needed.

UK Uncut – which started in a pub and spread its word through Twitter – are targeting rich billionaires and companies who they accuse of tax avoidance, including Topshop owner Sir Philip Green and mobile phone company Vodafone.

They argue that the budget deficit would be solved if the companies were forced to pay more tax, therefore alleviating the need for swingeing cuts.

The group has already held a number of other demonstrations elsewhere in the country including a massive protest in London on Saturday which involved a sit-in at Topshop’s flagship store in Oxford Street, forcing it to close.

More than 30 Vodafone shops have also been forced to close up and down the country and some campaigners have even been gluing themselves to windows at demonstrations.

On Monday David Gauke, exchequer secretary to the Treasury, announced a number of changes to legislation to tackle tax avoidance, some of which will take immediate effect.

They are expected to generate �2billion in additional revenue during the course of the current Parliament.