WORCESTERSHIRE County Council could close a Kidderminster nursery in a bid to save money.

The proposal is for the county council to stop providing the morning nursery at St Oswald’s Primary School, Sion Avenue but as part of the deal the afternoon governing body-run nursery would be extended to open all day.

There would still be the same number of places available and parents would still be able to access their 15-hours free entitlement so the number of places would be unaffected.

In a meeting at County Hall last Thursday, the council’s cabinet handed the final decision to director of children’s services Gail Quinton because of a delay in publishing a public notice announcing the proposed change.

The delay meant the notice’s representation period did not finish until last Friday, after the cabinet meeting and the group does not meet again until September 26.

A council spokesman said a decision was likely to made within the next two weeks.

Conservative councillor Liz Eyre, cabinet member for children and families, said: "Changes to the way families can access their free 15 hours of nursery provision has led to a number of local authority-maintained nurseries to consider closure as numbers fall.

“The decision taken today will not affect the number of pre-school places available as alternative provision is available."