MORE than 650 anguished parents have signed a petition pleading with council chiefs to scrap children's centre cuts - warning of "massive long term costs".

Desperate mums say the 32 centres have helped them with depression, relationship break-ups, financial problems and behavioural advice for bringing up toddlers.

But with the funding for them set to be slashed 33 per cent from October, parents attended a Worcestershire County Council meeting today to plead for a change of heart.

During the debate Siani Driver, from the Worcestershire Mums Network, warned councillors of "a short term saving for massive long-term costs".

A fellow mum turned up to say her local centre had helped her during a relationship break-up and depression, while a third told them it could lead lead to a damaging decline in breast feeding.

The debate also descended into a furious row between Labour and Conservative politicians, both of whom took swipes at each other for the cutbacks.

We revealed in June how County Hall intends to cut funding for the centres from £4.5 million a year to £3 million, with schools and childcare organisations due to take them over.

It will mean job cuts, although the numbers are still unknown, and widespread service reductions in around 17 of them, although each building will remain open.

Ms Driver, who has a three-year-old daughter called Rosie and is pregnant with another, said: "I've had several staff members email me anonymously about potential redundancies, saying they've all been told to 'say nothing'.

"I'd like to know if the views of 2,000 parents have actually been taken into account?

"It feels like a short-term saving for a massive long term affect."

Hannah Cooper, who runs the Malvern branch of the National Childbirth Trust, said it would harm breastfeeding rates while Kate Wilkinson, a mum-of-two told councillors her centre helped her with financial advice and counselling after a relationship break-up.

"The GP can't help me with my finances, with my son, with toddler groups for my daughter," she said.

"These centres are the hub of parenting life, I implore you to think about where things are being cut."

Parent Lisa-Marie Vaughan, of St John's, who has called it "a massive backward step" was also at the debate.

During the meeting Councillor Peter McDonald, Labour group leader, said it was "all about driving through £1.5 million of cuts" and insisted the proposals had "little regard" to the consultation feedback.

During a consultation 2,000 people took part and 60 per cent called for no changes, something he labelled "a sham".

Councillor Chris Bloore said: "I'm shocked - 2,000 people responded to this consultation and 60 per cent have said no change, we haven't even got a compelling case for this.

"I cannot think of anything more important, in my division, than what's being taken away."

Conservative Councillor Marc Bayliss, the cabinet member for children and families, reiterated that no sites would close, "unlike many other authorities" which have shut children's centres.

He said Labour wrongly wanted a council tax freeze earlier this year, which would have led to £6 million of extra cuts, and told them: "We aren't getting away from the fact that we will probably take £1.5 million out of our children's centres, there will be consequences."

A new consultation will now launch, lasting until mid-August, before decisions are finalised.

The overview and scrutiny performance board (OSPB), which held the debate today, also wants the end decision to be taken by the entire Conservative cabinet in public, rather than have it finalised by Councillor Bayliss under special 'deleted responsibility' powers.

A decision on that is yet to be made, but once the fresh consultation is over a debate will also be held by County Hall's children and young people scrutiny panel before anything is rubber-stamped.