Parents have hit out at plans to slash the opening hours of a popular children’s centre after councillors rubberstamped the decision.

On Monday, Essex County Council cabinet members approved a report recommending that the Roundabout Children’s Centre in Cressing Road, Braintree, opens for just 10 hours per week instead of 42.5.

It was one of a raft of ideas, which included changing The Harlequin Centre, in Spa Road, from 50 hours per week to 40 hours and ten hours telephone service.

The Little Lanes Children’s Centre, based at the Cornerstone Church, in Black Notley, is set to close completely.

Single mum Hannah Baker, 29, of Virgil Road, Witham, uses the Roundabout centre to go to classes with her two-year-old son Keaton, and to also resit her English and maths GCSE.

She said: “It is very important, it is like an extra support system for me, they help me with advice and are helping me to get a job.

“It is going to leave a big hole as it is very popular.

“I will miss it being open all the time.”