A GROUP of dedicated Darlington mums have set up a not-for-profit group aimed at preserving some of the community children's services from public spending cuts.

Five children's centres across Darlington are at risk of closure as a result Darlington Borough Council's announcement that it has to make cuts of £12.5 million to balance its books.

Tanya Webster, Diane Etherington, Samantha Booth and Claire Piggott have set up a group called Family Resource Network Darlington (Frend).

They hope to bring together some of the services currently offered in the seemingly-doomed children's centres.

Ms Webster, who is mother to three-year-old Alfie, said: "At the moment, there are four of us and we had a meeting on Thursday to talk about what we might be able to achieve.

"We've set up a Facebook page and we are inviting mums, dads and carers to get involved if they have concerns.

"It would be great if they could share ideas for fundraising and the like."

Ms Webster said the group hope to obtain charity status for Frend.

She added: "We know there is no magic pot of money and these services are most likely going to be cut and the centres closed.

"But we are looking at how we can move forward, as parents and volunteers, to keep some of these services."

Ms Webster stressed how vital the services provided at the children's centres has been to the families who use them.

She added: "We have used the centres since Alfie was born, mainly Mount Pleasant, but we have been to others as well.

"The services on offer at the centres have been essential, right from the early days of being a new Mum to going to health clinics and breast feeding groups.

"Our goal is to register as a charity and then get people on board who are going to be willing to run groups and sessions.

"We are not naive enough to think it is going to be straight-forward, but we need to do everything we can to keep these services going.

"We have got to raise £5,000 to be able to register as a charity and it's that sort of thing we are working on the moment.

"We have sent out a survey asking people what they most want and where they would be prepared to travel to."

Details of a public meeting held by Frend will be announced in due course.

In the meantime, search Family Resource Network Darlington for more information.