Shropshire Council is looking at plans to half Early Help Services in the county from 12 to six.

This will also see the 26 buildings used to deliver these services cut down to six - saving £875,000 a year on running costs.

The family hub based in Whitchurch will be one of 26 that will remain open, but the hub at Ellesmere Primary School and St Peters Primary in Wem will be de-designated.

Karen Bradshaw, director of Children's Services said: "Early Help is important for families and we want to focus on a family as a whole rather than singling out the child.

"In terms of early help and how to support families, it isn't just from zero to five-year-olds, it is to help them right up to adulthood.

"The buildings that aren't required will be transferred to schools or private provisions will use them. The council won't be spending money on running costs so that means more money to protect frontline services."

Shropshire Council will continue to work with families and children who are impacted by domestic abuse, mental health, relationship breakdown poverty and worklessness.

The previous plans were set out in January this year with concerns around the drop-in stay and play facility and the loss of parenting programmes, however Karen assured "there will be no removal of the parenting programmes". The public noted the important values of strengthening the relationship with partners including schools, health, police, housing and the community. Another benefit outlined was to receive information face-to-face from health visitors and Early Help staff members.

The Two for You programme run by the council will able the crossover over of children being sent to other nurseries instead of a council building used for the services.

Karen added:"There will be very few redundancies and job losses. We have been talking about this for nine months now so our staff are aware but it's not started yet, we are just looking for a formal consultation."

For those families who may struggle to access a Early Help family hub, Shropshire Council will continue to support them through face-to-face work in an appropriate venue which could even be their home.

There will be 30 public meetings held across the county from the start of June until the end of July as well as questionnaires and the opportunity to write in.

The consultation will also see buildings currently occupied by the services reviewed on usage and accessibility. This review will be undertaken in conjunction with the Corporate Landlord and The Open Public Estate initiative to support wider plans.

Following the public consultation period, a final decision will be made in September.