UPDATED 4PM

MORE than 1,000 people have signed a hard-hitting petition over cuts to children's centres after an explosion in support.

The Worcester News can reveal how the numbers have surged 51 per cent in just five weeks, with campaigners saying they will keep up the pressure.

Anguished parents from Worcestershire Mums Network launched their petition in mid-June after the county council announced widespread cuts.

As of this afternoon it stood at 1,002, with the numbers rising by the hour after gaining big exposure on social media.

Back at the start of July it reached 650, but has rocketed in recent weeks.

The campaign group says the scale of the opposition "demonstrates how essential Worcestershire families find the services", and has launched fresh criticism at County Hall.

A spokeswoman for Worcestershire Mums Network said: "We're delighted at the signatures the petition has received.

"It demonstrates how essential Worcestershire families find the services provided by our beloved children's centres - however we'll not stop fighting these cuts tooth and nail.

"Whilst the council is receiving millions to bail out road schemes and spending several million on high speed broadband, the county's families are being forgotten and undervalued.

"There seems to always be money there for the projects they choose, yet not for those that the public is very vocally shouting that is most important to them."

But the criticism has been rejected by another member of the Conservative leadership, who says they are taking it "very seriously".

Councillor John Smith, the cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: "Lots of youngsters are not getting the help they need, and the money we will still put into that service will go on the 'hard-to-reach' groups - that's where we have to focus.

"Nobody likes change when you've been used to something for so long, but the money is just not there any more - we are taking it very seriously indeed as a whole cabinet.

"We've seen from the feedback from the schools and they are very positive about it, lots of encouraging work is going on and we are determined to focus on people most in need."

From October the overall funding for 32 children's centres across the county will fall 53 per cent, from £6.4 million to £3 million.

Some £1.5 million of that spending reduction is from County Hall's own budget, with the rest the result of the loss of a Government Early Intervention Grant.

The council says none of the site will close but services face significant reductions in 18 of them, with talks ongoing between County Hall, childcare organisations and schools which will take over the management of them.

A consultation over it runs until next Wednesday, August 17.