HUNDREDS of parents marched through Oxford city centre to campaign against Oxfordshire County Council’s proposals to close children’s centres.

A crowd formed in Bonn Square at about 1pm on Saturday before people marched to Broad Street, where speakers lambasted “vindictive” Government funding cuts.

The county council has proposed closing all 44 of the county’s children’s centres, and its seven early intervention hubs, and replacing them with eight family and resource centres, in a bid to save up to £8m.

Diane Wilson, a co-organiser of the protest, said: “Some have said that children’s centres have saved their lives – people who have been out on the streets, or have had post-natal depression. It’s a false economy to close them.

“Lots of passers-by have come and signed the petition – people who don’t know anything about it and think it’s outrageous.”

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Last week, Prime Minister David Cameron was accused of being “blissfully ignorant” of the impact of the cuts after the Oxford Mail revealed a letter he sent to county council leader Ian Hudspeth, calling the closure of children’s centres an “unwelcome and counter-productive” measure.

In response organisers of the protest invited the Prime Minister to join them on the march but he did not make an appearance.

Protester Jane English, 27, from Bicester, came along with husband Marcus and four-month-old son Artie.

She said: “I’m a new mum and the children’s centres were vital to me in terms of getting out and meeting other mums. Without them I would have suffered.

“I’m really upset about this and I know a lot of other mums are too.”

Fellow parent Bekki Reiple Prevost, who attends the Kaleidoscope Children’s Centre in Kidlington with 15-month-old daughter Eris, said: “We are here to stand up for children’s centres. They help families deal with things like depression.

“When you have a new baby most of your friends are at work and you can’t drive or take a bus if the baby hasn’t had vaccines. It’s great to meet local people.”

The protest on Saturday followed a similar demonstration in September.

Alongside parents and campaigners were a number of Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat councillors from Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council.

Sian Taylor, Labour city councillor for Northfield Brook, spoke to crowds next to the Clarendon Building.

“She said: “Don’t let anyone tell you that these cuts are about the need to balance the books.

“This is a political choice – a nasty and vindictive move to hurt families that are most vulnerable.”

County councillors Steve Curran and David Williams also took to the stage.

Mr Curran said: “When you get a government that cuts more than £290m out of a budget, there will be casualties – anything not statutory will be wiped out.

“The work that goes on at children’s centres and early intervention centres is fantastic.

“The cost of dealing with the same problems elsewhere will be enormous.”

County council cabinet member for education, Melinda Tilley, said: “We are still listening. We have not made any decisions yet and we are still working with community groups to see how we can keep the buildings open.

“It is a really difficult decision and it is not one we take lightly.”