PARENTS and staff fighting against the possible closure of three nurseries continued with their plight at the weekend to stop the action.

The Sankofa nursery in Hillhouse, the Cambridge Road Nursery in Huddersfield and Tiddlywinks in Deighton are all under threat by Kirklees Council.

Campaigners gathered in the town centre on Saturday to collect signatures against the proposals before holding a second protest march.

Different organisations and campaign groups supported the protest, including local councillors, the UNISON union, sacked strikers from home help organisation Unique Care and Huddersfield Save Our NHS campaigners.

Nursery campaign organiser Mel Mills said: "It is not just parents who are directly affected by this closure who are expressing their support. All sections of the community have been firmly in favour of our campaign.

"This is about protecting and preserving the future of our society and our young people."

The purpose of the day of action was to keep up the pressure on the council in the run up to local elections on Thursday.

All three nurseries were set to be closed, but councillors did a U-turn and agreed to a full review.

They are currently looking into the report.

The campaigners hoped to reach the 10,000 mark of signatures collected against the proposed closures.

Ms Mills said:

"The council cannot afford to ignore such strong feelings if they really do believe, as they claim, that `every child matters'."