CAMPAIGNERS have been left devastated after controversial plans to close 43 children's centres across Hampshire have been approved.

Service users fear the "devastating" cull of Sure Start facilities will leave parents without the early help needed to avoid crisis for them or their children.

They will now have to travel to one of 11 district hubs for the most serious support, although Hampshire County Council is looking to increase other services in communities.

Protesters were pessimistic before the meeting but turned out with trade unionists to make their last stand in Winchester today.

Babies burbled throughout as the council's children's service boss explained why the £8.5m cuts were being made.

Steve Crocker said: "There's currently a complex range of services and families tell us they want one source of help.

"We think we should be focussing on families as a whole rather than individual children.

"We mustn't provide a 20th century service for the 21st century."

The proposals have sparked widespread protest over the last few months, with marched and petitions culminating in a demonstration on the streets of Winchester in May.

Lead campaigner Catherine Ovenden has previously pledged to raise money for a legal challenge but missed today's meeting through illness.

Cllr Jackie Porter, Lib Dem spokeswoman for children, told the meeting that rising demand would require more staff, wiping out the council's savings in the long run.

Mothers' mental health could be neglected if they can't drop into centres with the qualified staff, she added.

Cllr Keith Mans, the Conservative executive member for children's services, approved the scheme with four new proposals following a scrutiny meeting this morning.

They involved monitoring of centre closures and mental health, a digital strategy to inform parents of how they could access services and support for community groups wanting to provide some services at centres set for closure.

Mum of one Lynn Tolmon said the decision was "devastating".

"I don't know how they're going to keep mums on the right side of the knife edge that the children's centres are so great at balancing."

She said the additional recommendations were "nonsense".

"We don't need information about support - we need support.

"The children's centres are like walking in to see a group of friends. You're not going to get that from a website and you're not going to get it from a hub."