PARENTS angry at the sudden closure of their family centre as part of council spending cuts are to lobby for it to be re-opened.

The Esh Winning Family Centre was shut by Durham County Council in November and the move was confirmed by the Labour-run authority's cabinet earlier this year as it sought £14m-worth of savings following the announcement of "disappointing'' funding by the Government.

On Friday, parents who have used the centre will protest on the steps of County Hall, in Durham and will also hand in a petition calling on the council to reverse the decision.

The village's Labour Durham City councillor, Eileen Rochford, said: "The centre provided a vital service to the most vulnerable groups within our community in an unobtrusive manner.

"It was valued by both the adults and children who used it and the many professionals who accessed its services, such as health visitors and school headteachers.

"The closure was announced without any consultation with either the management committee or the service users.

"The parents feel aggrieved that the centre is being closed to save a few thousand pounds, a mere pittance in the scale of a multi-million pound budget.

"We have to ask what price do they put on the safety and protection of our young people. Is it merely a case of balancing the budget, never mind how the electorate feel?''

A county council spokesman said: "Councillors and senior officers have been in discussion with the management committee of the family centre on two occasions, and we would wish to have continuing discussions about the future of the centre.''