A PROTEST against plans to cut the budget for children's play facilities in Burnley was held outside the Town Hall.

About 50 campaigners, many of them children with their mums and dads, joined hands outside the town hall.

Campaign chairman, Chris Keene, said they wanted to highlight the impact the short-sighted action would have on services for the children.

He said: "We are very pleased with the level of public support we have receive for the campaign so far. The people of Burnley realise how important important our children are and we know we can count on widespread backing for our growing campaign."

He said they understood that the council had difficulties in setting its budget because of a fall in the government cash it had received and supported their efforts to bring extra money into the town.

But, he said, they were fundamentally wrong to even consider cutting children's services.

He added; "We call upon the council to work with parents, carers and the wider community to secure the future of this vital service."

Head of community and leisure services Mike Waite speaking earlier said the council was looking into making savings of £60,000 out of a council budget of £600,000.

That would be by restructuring and using more part-time and fewer full-time staff. the aim was that term time facilities would remain virtually the same.

The council was looking to continue to provide holiday time play facilities by working with other organisations and bringing in more grants, he said.

He said: "Even with the proposals being considered at the moment we would still have as a council a bigger play service provision than most councils in Lancashire. Burnley Council has a strong commitment to play services."