Almost half of the county's under-threat children's centres could be kept open.

Under new plans announced today, there would be 18 centres across Oxfordshire as part of a new social care service for youngsters aged up to 19.

These would include eight 'children and family centres' in Banbury, Bicester, Witney, Abingdon and Didcot, with three in Oxford, as well as two 'bases', one in East Oxford and one in Banbury.

Eight further centres - including three in Banbury, one in Chipping Norton, two in Oxford, one in Botley and one in Didcot - would offer limited 'outreach' services.

Oxfordshire County Council originally proposed closing all 44 children's centres and seven early intervention hubs and replacing them with a new £12m service across eight main centres.

It has now proposed keeping the extra ones open using £2m saved from budget cuts in February.

The local authority will also look at business cases put forward by community groups for keeping other centres open, which could be given a slice of a one-off £1m fund.

The decision follows large protests by parents calling for all of the centres to be kept open.

Melinda Tilley, cabinet member for children, education and families, said "the reality" was this was not possible but the revised plan would "significantly increase the reach and power" of the new service.

She added: "We have listened to what campaigners said to us and we hope they will be pleased with these latest proposals.

"But there is no escaping that some things are still going to have to go that have been around for 10 years."

But Jill Huish, of the Save Oxfordshire's Children's Centres campaign, said: "Under these plans some people will still have to travel miles to reach a children's centre.

"Parents may not be able to get the vital support they need and we could end up with 'invisible families' across the county, which would lead to worse problems later on."

Under the plans to reorganise children's services in Oxfordshire, 44 children's centres are due to lose funding in March 2017 along with seven early intervention hubs.

They will be replaced with a new service for youngsters aged up to 19 that will have three types of centre and a mobile bus service.

The eight 'children and family centres' will be funded by the county council and offer targeted services for vulnerable families such as support for domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health and parenting advice.

They would also offer some universal services and be supported by the two extra 'bases'.

Meanwhile the other eight 'outreach' centres, which already offer childcare, would be self-funding and offer limited services supported by community groups and social workers who would visit.

The county council says it is also set to offer some activities such as 'stay and play' at its 43 libraries and will train staff to spot signs of neglect and abuse.

However, the new service would mean about 200 of 450 current staff lose their jobs.

The council's cabinet is due to consider the proposals next Tuesday, at 2pm in County Hall. If approved a consultation would be held from June, with an aim to running the new service from March 2017.

The 18 centres set to stay open:

  • Eight children and family centres:

Banbury Early Intervention Hub, Hilton Road, Banbury

Bicester Early Intervention Hub, Launton Road, Bicester

West Oxfordshire Early Intervention Hub, Witan Way, Witney

The Roundabout Centre, Waynflete Road, Barton, Oxford

The Leys Children's Centre, Cuddesdon Way, Blackbird Leys

Oxford Rose Hill children's centre, Oxford

Abingdon Early Intervention Hub, Stratton Way, Abingdon

Didcot Early Intervention Hub, Park Road, Didcot

  • Two 'locality bases':

East Street Children's Centre, Calder Close, Banbury

East Oxford Children's Centre, Collins Street, Oxford

  • Eight 'outreach centres':

The Sunshine Centre, Edmunds Road, Banbury

North Banbury Centre, Hardwick School, Banbury

Britannia Road Centre, Grove Street, Banbury

The Ace Centre, Burford Road, Chipping Norton

The Slade and Headington Children's Centre, Titup Hall Drive, Wood Farm, Oxford

Grandpont Children's Centre, Whitehouse Road, Oxford

Elms Road Children's Centre, Elms Road, Botley

Stephen Freeman Children's Centre, Freeman Road, Didcot