EVERGREEN Children's Centre will stay open "for the foreseeable future", although services could be relocated to other centres.

Parents are holding a protest in Worcester on July 29 after reading that the centre was closing in letters given out on July 14.

Staff retracted the letters for 'political reasons', 20 minutes after handing them out to 17 parents at the centre.

A spokesman for Action for Children, the charity in charge of Evergreen Children's Centre, said: "To maintain continuity, the centre will remain open for the foreseeable future.

"We are working closely with the council on a transition plan regarding the re-location of services to council owned buildings in line with other centres in Malvern to maximise service delivery for families.

"We will keep partners and families informed as the transition plan is implemented."

The spokesman said the centre is privately leased and therefore unique in Malvern and subject to different considerations.

Hannah Cooper, branch coordinator for Malvern Hills NCT, said: "Malvern Hills NCT welcome the news that Evergreen Children's Centre is staying open for the 'foreseeable future'.

"But we still feel that this statement is vague; especially for pregnant parents who's antenatal care is provided at Evergreen."

Ms Cooper said the letters announcing the closure of Evergreen inspired the group to organise a demonstration at County Hall.

"A woman next to me was devastated when she got the letter. The uncertainty about what is happening is very confusing and unsettling for parents," she said.

Ms Cooper said the situation was particularly worrying for pregnant mothers receiving antenatal help at the centre.

"We have taken part in the political process but feel like we are not being listened to," she said.

"The consultation has not finished and these things are already starting."

Marc Bayliss, the cabinet member for children and families, said giving out the letters was inappropriate.

"It was not something that we had agreed at that point and they jumped the gun in terms of communication with parents," he said.

"There are clearly groups out there trying to make political capital out of this situation and making it more worrying for people using these services.

"I have been open, honest and transparent about these proposals. It’s easy to be a by-stander and throw stones as some opposition politicians are.

"We are making sure we maintain a network of children's centres across the county."