Cameron opposes Oxfordshire children's centre cuts plan

David Cameron was met by children's centre campaigners in Chipping Norton in October 2013

David Cameron says he opposes plans to cut Oxfordshire's children's centres from 44 to eight in a bid to save £8m.

In a statement, the Witney MP described them as "vital" services, adding: "I firmly believe they should remain open."

He said the county council should protect frontline services and make cuts elsewhere.

Ian Hudspeth, leader of the authority, said it needed "to take some tough decisions".

He said: "We've got £88m-worth of savings to deliver, part of that is around children's centres [and] the early intervention centres, to make sure we can still have the social workers who will provide the vital social care that vulnerable and disadvantaged children in Oxfordshire require."

Mr Cameron said: "There is still significant scope for sensible savings across local government to be made by back office consolidation, disposing of surplus property and joining up our local public services."

The county council proposals have led to recent protests in Oxford

Under the proposals, which have prompted protests in the city, eight remaining centres would be used to form part of a new referral service for babies and children up to 19 years old.

The council, run by a Conservative-Independent alliance, also proposes stopping services such as stay-and-play sessions for children and parents and open-access youth sessions.

The Green Party will urge Labour-led Oxford City Council to oppose the plans at a meeting later.

Councillor David Thomas, who put forward the motion, described the centres as "critical".

Fears that some children's centres could close first led to demonstrations in Chipping Norton in October 2013.

By December that year Mr Hudspeth said children's centres were no longer under threat, but last December they were back on the agenda.

About 70 people protested outside Oxford's County Hall on 9 September, with further demonstrations held in the city the following week