Somerset council could now close 16 children's centres

There are 41 children's centres in Somerset

Somerset Council has admitted up to 16 children's centres are now at risk of closure - three days after insisting there were "no plans" to do so.

Labour group concerns about the future of the county's 41 centres were on Tuesday dismissed by the Conservative-run authority.

A spokesman said there were "no plans in place to close any children's centres in Somerset".

The local authority is consulting people who use the current 41 centres.

Under the proposals, 14 would remain exclusively as children's centres and up to 13 would be shared with other services. The remaining 16 would be at risk of closure.

Activities for children and their families would continue to run, but in other venues like village halls, the council has said.