HUNDREDS of young families are celebrating after councillors safeguarded the short-term future of their after-school play centres.

It followed a march through Scarborough to the town hall to present thousands of signatures against the borough council's bid to transfer the running of the centres to the communities at Eastfield, in Barrowcliffe; Gladstone Road, in Scarborough; and Helredale Road, Whitby.

Protestors said it was the first step to closing the centres to save the council £165,000.

Now the council has agreed a reprieve until December 31 to enable organisations to be established to run the centres.

In addition, the council's overview and scrutiny committee for environmental health is to study the implications of closing refuse tips at Filey and Burniston later this year, and to the possible closure of 12 toilets in the holiday resort.

Councillor Eileen Bosomworth, council leader, said it was vital the authority took action to save £1.6m to produce a balanced budget. However, she warned that the council already faced having to make cuts of £1.3m in its budget for 2005-2006 as a result of receiving one of the lowest increases in its grant from the Government of just over three per cent.

Councillor Bill Chatt said the after-school play centres were vital to the deprived communities providing them with a safe haven for children.