CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to keep up the pressure over Worcestershire's children's centres - despite controversial cuts securing the go-ahead.

Worcestershire County Council has published its decision notice confirming that a shock 53 per cent cut in funding will kick in from December.

It means despite a long battle from protestors, 18 of the county's 32 children's centres will suffer significant service reductions.

Today County Hall's Labour group leader Councillor Peter McDonald responded immediately by using a procedure known as the 'call in', meaning the decision will be subject to another scrutiny debate before the changes are allowed to start.

The decision notice, which the council announced at around 6pm on Friday, says a six to nine-month "transition period" will be needed to allow the £3.4 million of cuts to bed in.

A one-off sum of £30,000 will also be used to encourage the centres to become "self-sufficient" where possible.

Opposition councillors and parents today hit out at the decision, saying they will use the scrutiny process to have one final stab at forcing a u-turn.

Councillor Richard Udall, who chairs the Labour group and runs the main scrutiny board at County Hall, said: "There is still a long way to go - as I said last week, scrutiny has not finished its job.

"There is still a lot of information we are required to see."

Parent Jo Sell, 36, a mum-of-two who has used centres in Worcester and Evesham, said: "None of the mums and even dads who have spoken out against this are going to give up - there is too much at stake for our children."

Worcestershire Mums Network, which led the campaign to block the cuts and got 1,185 people to sign a petition, has called the decision "insanity."

Under the changes either schools or childcare organisations will take over each site under lease deals, with the overall funding falling from £6.4 million a year to around £3 million.

The Conservative leadership says that in "many cases" centres will stay open for longer, despite the funding drop, and has reiterated that none will close.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, the cabinet member for children and families, said: "I understand this is a difficult time for service users, staff and partners - however these changes will allow us to continue to focus on supporting those families who need it most.

"The schools and childcare providers taking on these buildings have got some very encouraging plans for how they will continue working with partners to support children and families.

"In many cases, this means buildings will be open longer, and be doing more to support their local community.

"The additional funding and plans for support will allow us to work closely with our providers and partners to make these changes as smooth as possible."

More than half of the funding cut is down to the loss of a Government Early Intervention Grant, with the council only saving £1.5 million a year from its own budget.

Some key services like neo-natal health checks and nursing visits will remain universal at each site.