FURIOUS parents marched on County Hall to protest against planned cuts to children’s centres across the county.

More than 40 parents and children waved placards outside Worcestershire County Council's headquarters yesterday as they continue to fight against proposals to cut funding by £1.5 million.

Concerned mums and dads say the cuts could cause "serious repercussions" for young families, with fears some may start to "slip through the net".

Amanda Penkoks, who is 23 weeks pregnant and has a three-year-old daughter, said: “Where will the mothers who can’t afford to pay for the groups go?”

Mrs Penkoks went to Baby Latte meetings at Evergreen Children’s Centre in Malvern after she had difficulties with feeding her new-born.

“It was a life saver for me. It helped me breastfeed and gave me a social life for the first six weeks after the birth,” she said.

“When you’re not sleeping and are confused you need to meet other people going through the same thing. The groups are vital for that.

“I don’t know where the support will come from now. Will there be a breast feeding group or a play group after the cuts?”

Siani Driver, the founder of Worcestershire Mums Network, said children's centres are her "first port of call" as a mother.

“We have been trying to stop this since last August but Cllr (Marc) Bayliss (cabinet member for children and families) doesn’t want to listen," she said.

“A lot of people feel like their support net has been pulled out from under them, many don’t have mums down the road.

“Lots of my members are staff at children centres and they are terrified what will happen to their jobs.

Ms Driver said more than 2,000 people filled out the original consultation over the proposed cuts, with 60 per cent saying they did not want the centres to change.

“The council are not thinking beyond this financial year,” she added.

Frances Thurlow, a breastfeeding councillor who runs the Baby Latte group in Evergreen Children’s Centre, said: “I’m here to represent those families who are more disadvantaged.

“There will be families who will fall through the net if these centres are closed. There will be serious repercussions.

“There needs to be a hub of services at the heart of communities. Other groups are available to mothers, but they have to be paid for."

Some of the protesters said the Evesham Orchard and Spring Vale Children’s Centre had already closed down.

Daisy Halford, who uses the Evesham centre with her seven-month-old son, said: “When I found out the centre was closing two weeks ago I was so angry and upset.

“I went home and had a little cry. How can the council justify spending £70m on Carrington Bridge and then cut children’s centres?

“I know that at the centre if I have any worries I can speak to someone and they will sort it.”

Cllr Bayliss rejected calls from the protesters to meet them outside and instead invited them to discuss the matter in the council chamber.

During the discussion, the parents asked the councillor why he was 'targeting' children’s centres.

Ms Driver told Mr Bayliss: “£1.5m doesn’t seem like a huge amount compared to the impact it’s having. Look around you, people really care."

Cllr Bayliss replied: “If the council takes money from libraries, roads or help for learning disabilities there will be an equally big outcry.”

County councillor Chris Bloore and Daniel Walton, chairman of West Worcestershire Labour Party, also attended the protest.

Mr Walton said he opposes the cuts and is calling for a county council which is "not beholden to the government".

Cllr Bloore said: “The centres help education and social progress and save the council money in the long term."

Worcestershire County Council is looking at cutting annual funding to children's centres from £4.5 million to £3 million. If approved the cuts would happen before the end of the year.