FURIOUS parents and children turned out in force against cost-cutting plans by Bury's social services which, they say, will devastate lives.

They claim that cutbacks will place the Re:d Centre in Bury, which looks after disabled youngsters and their families, under threat.

Protesters, some in wheelchairs, packed into the town hall foyer before Wednesday's executive meeting to tell councillors exactly what they thought.

But it was to no avail: members voted to cut £200,000 from the amount the council pays to the children's charity NCH, which runs the Morley Street centre with local charity Hurdles.

If a new deal cannot be renegotiated, the council will run an in-house alternative providing a reduced level of service.

The Re:d Centre opened only four years ago and offers advice, family support, short breaks, play activities, and social opportunities.

Mrs Geraldine Greene, chairman of Hurdles, said: "It seems as if our protest achieved absolutely zilch. We were trying to deliver a message but we were talking to the deliberately deaf. But we will not give up: we will try to salvage as much as possible for our children from this awful mess."

On Wednesday night, Mrs Geeene implored councillors to see the vital work done by the centre before making any decision.

"This is not a centre for parents who want an easy life: invest in us now, or you will pay a price for the broken families, the children, that never had the option to fulfil their potential."

Mrs Annemarie Haggart, whose son George (8) has speech and language difficulties and epilepsy, broke down as she explained how important the two hours he spent there each week were.

She said George needed the company, and it was also the only occasion she had time to herself to do housework or shopping.

Mr Bernard Emblem, head teacher at Millwood special school, said that to withdraw care that had already been agreed could put families at risk of complete breakdown.

Councillor Wayne Campbell, deputy leader, said there was no proposal to close the centre and promised it would be here next year.

And council leader John Byrne said that no cuts in the overall budget were being proposed: it was a matter of ensuring that overspends did not get worse.

"We are going to spend every penny allocated this year, but demands are increasing and we have to look at the criteria again. We're spending at a greater rate than we have in the bank: that cannot go on. We have to look at everything."

Ms Eleni Ioannides, director of social services, explained: "It's not about trying to wreck things that are working, but trying to rejig services. We're not pretending that everyone will end up happy."

But protester Andrew Tickle challenged members to come and see how each affected family shaped up in six months' time. "You are taking away the smiles from people's faces," he said.

Ian Young, deputy director of childrens services with NCH North West, said: "We are proud of The Re:d Centre. It is highly valued by the many families who make use of its support: and if it's forced to close, the borough will lose an essential provision that enables many disabled children, young people and their carers lead a full and valued life."

Councillors made their decision behind closed doors on the grounds that the report contained details of the contract with NCH.

On a second, related, proposal to cut family support packages by 25 per cent across the children's disability service, the executive decided to refer this to the healthier and safer communities scrutiny commission.