VULNERABLE children could soon be left with fewer vital support services as a number of Reading's children's centres are faced with closure, it has been revealed.

The town's cash-strapped authority admitted it could be forced to sell some of the buildings and staff could face redundancies as it continues to tighten its financial belt.

Green waste collection, STI checks and domestic abuse support have already been cut as the authority battles to make thousands of pounds of savings.

Vulnerable families in the town currently have a choice of 13 centres they can visit for support, baby clinics and family activity sessions. However, council leaders want to reduce the number to four central hubs and three satellite centres, with reduced services, in a bid to save £400,000.

If approved, services based in areas like Hamilton Road, Katesgrove and Caversham Youth Centre will be moved to either Sun Street Youth and Community Building in east Reading; Southcote Youth and Community Building and Children’s Centre; Ranikhet Children’s Centre in Tilehurst or Whitley Youth Centre.

Some of the buildings will continue to run, but the authority warned other may be sold to raise cash and some staff could lose their jobs.

A council spokesman said: "Any future remodelling of Children’s Centre Services which affects jobs will lead to a formal staff consultation. We are committed to redeployment wherever possible.

"Although some buildings may cease to operate as children’s centres, some already have other functions and others may be used by the council for alternative purposes.

"Some buildings could be sold as part of the council’s ongoing asset realisation project."

RBC is set to launch a 12-week consultation for residents to comment on the proposals before they go before the council on December 13.

Jan Gavin, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Children’s Services, added: “Reading has always had a generous number of Children’s Centres across the borough offering a wide range of services for families.

“Unfortunately, swingeing cuts in government funding means we can no longer continue to offer the same level of service and have to focus on directing our resources to the families who most need support.

“All families will still receive universal services, such as ante-natal and post-natal care, but we have had to look at more efficient ways of delivering them."