AN outdoor study centre used by tens of thousands of Hampshire children over the past 75 years has been thrown a lifeline after the Daily Echo revealed its future was under threat.

Bosses at Stubbington Study Centre near Fareham had warned a decision by Hampshire County Council to end its subsidy could have proved disastrous, particularly for some of the county's most deprived youngsters.

The centre offers children the chance to spend a week in the countryside learning about nature and the environment.

Now it will be handed enough cash to remain open for at least the next 12 months.

Yesterday, as Hampshire County Council's Cabinet met to discuss its budget, the authority's leader, Cllr Ken Thornber, said he wanted to fund the £95,000 from the money normally given to community groups in grants.

Cllr Thornber said: "I am prepared to buy a year's continuation at the present level of funding by taking money from the grant I give to the community as a whole.

"These study centres are superb places for children from deprived areas to get to know the countryside."

He added the funding would only be for one year, during which time he wanted to see the centre work on developing a marketing strategy to ensure it can self-fund in coming years.

The decision came as the council's Cabinet agreed a budget in which savings of £24m will be made during the next 12 months.

At the same time spending will increase by £21m because of an increasing population, inflation and ever more demands on the authority to provide services.

The financial squeeze also comes at a time when central government has given Hampshire one of the lowest grants of all county councils, forcing the authority to put up council tax by the maximum five per cent.

If the budget is passed by full council later this month, it will mean the average Band D household will pay £45 more for their county council contribution, or about £1,301 in total, including precepts for the police, local council and fire services.

Cllr Thornber's decision, though, drew a mixed reaction.

Stubbington manager Graham Cooper said: "I have mixed feelings. On the one hand it's great news because the grant will ensure that some of Hampshire's most deprived children will still get to experience the unique outdoor education and fun we offer.

"My concern is that next year, if the money is then stopped, we are back to square one with only those children whose parents can afford it able to send their children here.

"I would really like to see the council appreciate how important this place is and put funding for it back into the budget.

"This centre was set up to give the least able to afford it a chance to learn all about the countryside, so it would be a tragedy if the money couldn't be found to continue to do this."