PROTESTERS rallying to save children’s centres across Hampshire  continued their battle at a birthday party on Saturday.

Parents working to save Sure Start centres in the county went to protest at a street party in Winchester organised to celebrate the Queen’s birthday with £10,000 of public money.

Protest organiser Catherine Ovenden said it was a chance to reiterate the message that if public money can be spent on parties it should also be spent on children.

It comes after months of campaigning by Catherine and fellow parents to stop Hampshire County Council merging more than 40 Sure Start centres in Hampshire down to just 11.

The party, which doubled as a leaving do for the Dean of Winchester, the Very Rev James Atwell, was part-funded by the county council.

Catherine was joined by more than 20 other parents and children in Winchester Cathedral grounds for a singing protest.

Together they sang to the tune of the national anthem, changing the lyrics to be relevant to the proposed cuts, which are now being considered by the council after a consultation.

Catherine designed a selectin of banners including one saying “Save Sure Start” painted on a crown which they left behind after a day of singing, chatting to street party goers and members of the public about their cause.

Mum-of-two Catherine, who lives in Totton, said: “It went really well, we all had a good sing and chatted to lots of people about it, the reception was really good I think lots of people felt a bit odd because they were going to this free party but we were protesting there too but if the council can afford to fund a street party then they can afford to fund vital children’s services.

“I will keep fighting until we get a result and save the Sure Start centres, they’re so important to so many people.”

The campaign against plans to close the centres is in a bid to save £8.5million and the cutbacks could see around 60 per cent of staff lose their jobs.

Districts in danger include the New Forest, Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Winchester and the Test Valley.