HUNDREDS of parents have signed a petition to try and save a children's creche at a Hampshire superstore from closing.

The 200-plus signatories say the plan to permanently shut the creche when the Asda store closes for a three-month refurbishment shows the company does not care about its customers' wishes.

Parents are also threatening to boycott the store unless Asda changes its plans for Chandler's Ford and lets the creche continue when it reopens later this autumn.

Today, though, Asda bosses rejected the plea to keep the creche and said a survey of its customers had shown the facility was not wanted.

Currently the creche looks after about 100 children a week, whose parents drop them off while they go shopping.

The centre is run by the chain Dweezils, which says the first it knew about the plans was when a letter arrived from Asda giving them notice to leave.

Four members of staff will lose their jobs when the facility shuts on August 14, and parents say children will also lose lots of friends they have made.

One of those concerned is Katie Fielden, 21, from Shirley, Southampton, who said: "I always use it when shopping and leave both my boy and my two nephews there.

"I know they are safe and it gives me the opportunity to take my time over the shopping time I really value.

"Closing this place is a nightmare. I don't know what I will do with the kids, but I know I won't be making the effort to come to Asda.

"It's inconvenient and shows Asda doesn't really care about what its customers want."

Dweezils manager, Helen Jenkins, 20, said: "Obviously we are all out of a job. It's very upsetting both for us and the children."

A spokesman for Asda said it had conducted a survey which had shown a creche was not a priority.

Instead the supermarket said it would be increasing space for food, clothing, homeware and electrical items.

She added: "We are sad that some of our customers are disappointed, but we did ask 30,000 of our 74,000 weekly customers what they wanted and a creche was not on the list."