UNDER-threat children's centres across Oxfordshire could close earlier than expected due to an exodus of staff.

The county council warned the reorganisation within the next five months could lead to "significant movement" and force it to axe universal services in some areas.

It previously said they would stop at the end of March, when funding is set to be pulled from 31 of 44 children’s centres and two of seven early intervention hubs.

But a letter sent out this month – seen by the Oxford Mail – cast doubt over this, suggesting it would "not always be possible" to keep centres open until then.

Jim Leivers, director of children's services wrote: "It is also likely due to staff shortages we will have to cease the delivery of other open access provision in both children's centres and hubs in the coming months.

"We will work hard to avoid this by clustering resources... and will give families and partners as much notice as possible."

The letter sparked urgent calls for clarity from campaigners trying to save the centres, who last night accused the county council of "moving the goalposts".

Jill Huish, of the Save Oxfordshire's Children's Centres campaign group, said: "The council has had the axe hanging over children's centres and their staff for three years.

"If they are now saying they are going to have to scramble staff from some centres to keep others open, what does that mean for rural centres?

"We need less smoke and mirrors and more clarity as soon as possible."

Bob Price, leader of Oxford City Council, said there were "grave concerns" about the possibility of early closures.

He added: "The evidence shows they have performed an extremely valuable function in dealing with the kind of problems that can occur in families at an early stage, which can significantly reduce costs to children's social care further down the line.

"The closures could mean more problems so we have grave concerns about that.

"We are doing what we can with community centres to provide replacements but it will be nowhere near as effective."

The reorganisation of children's services will see the county's 44 children's centres and seven early intervention hubs replaced with a new service for children aged up to 19.

Only eight of the centres and hubs would remain fully-funded by the county council, with a further two kept open up as "bases".

Eight more would be self-funding 'outreach centres', mainly offering day care.

A legal challenge against the shake-up was mounted at the High Court in July, but a judge threw it out.

Melinda Tilley, county council cabinet member for children, education and families, yesterday said children's centres would be kept open "as long as possible".

She added: "We are hoping that community groups will continue to come forward, but we knew [staff losses] would happen and you really can't blame people for leaving.

"That is a concern but we are still having conversations about all the centres and are hopeful the majority will stay open in some form, which is a better situation than what we expected last year."