THE Mayor of Worcester has criticised cuts to children's centres across Worcestershire - accusing council chiefs of "decimating" the service.

Councillor Paul Denham has hit out at the controversial changes, saying it will damage the prospects of young families.

As well as being the city's first citizen Councillor Denham is Labour's spokesman for children and families at Worcestershire County Council, which is driving through the cuts.

The stringent criticism has been rejected by Councillor Marc Bayliss, the cabinet member pushing the changes through.

Councillor Denham said: "It seems to me that Councillor Bayliss either doesn't understand what's going on, or has deliberately misled over this.

"He said at the children and young people scrutiny panel (in June) that no decisions had been made over children's centres, yet I've had messages from mums saying services are already stopping.

"Some of them have told me how services in their centres stopped last Friday.

"They are decimating the service - how can they possibly say they'll still be meeting Government criteria?

"It just doesn't seem possible. They are being economical with the truth."

The spending cuts are due to kick in from October, but council chiefs have warned that centres may choose to end services early to prepare for the huge changes, which is why some are happening now.

Some organisations intending to lay off workers are also telling their staff now.

Councillor Bayliss, the cabinet member for children and families, said: "I don't think we could have been any clearer.

"We have tried to be transparent all the way along about these proposals, we recognise these are popular, well-liked services.

"I've sat down with as many people as I can about this, I've invited demonstrators in to County Hall to discuss it with them in as much detail as I can.

"This is not easy, it's controversial, tough stuff, I recognise that."

The looming spending reductions have already led to popular 'stay and play' sessions being stopped at several sites, with centres like Saffron and Lavender in Worcester taking an early hit.

Action for Children support workers are expecting to reduce their staffing from 20 to just four, while some children's centres have produced autumn timetables with drastically reduced activities, alarming parents.

We revealed yesterday how the overall spending on 32 children's centres across Worcestershire will plunge 53 per cent, from £6.4 million to just £3 million a year.

The cuts are twice as bad as many campaigners first feared, because County Hall's own in-house 'cut' of £1.5 million is being exacerbated by the loss of a Government Early Intervention Grant.

Under the plans all 32 sites will remain open, but services will reduce at 18 of them under the management of schools or childcare organisations.

A consultation over the changes runs until August 17.