A top councillor has branded concerns about the potential closure of 35 children’s centres “hysteria” - just one day after protestors braved freezing temperatures to make their voices heard by the county council.

Cllr Wendy Mallen criticised women in their “expensive cars” using the children’s centres – which are at risk of being axed under proposed changes by the county council – and said money is being “wasted”.

READ MORE HERE: Campaigners come together to protest against closure of 'invaluable' children's centres

In controversial comments made at a meeting of Downley Parish Council on Tuesday evening – a day after dozens of campaigners with placards and banners protested outside County Hall in Aylesbury – Cllr Mallen said: “We have been around several of them [the children’s centres] as councillors and quite frankly, some of them are not fit for purpose.

“People are saying ‘it has been this and that and it is so good and we are all helping each other’ and really, people are just sat there doing absolutely nothing.

“People who couldn’t speak English were being spoken to in their own language, not helped at all.

"You have women going there in very large, very expensive cars, their children being taught to play while they sit around watching and then they all went home again.

“It is for people who need help and they clearly didn’t. That is money being wasted.”

The comments have sparked outrage from campaigner Alka Dass, who said she was “shocked and deeply saddened”, adding: “Inclusivity is a very important factor, especially in communities where English may not be their first language and the centres really help to encourage people who cannot speak English to attend sessions.

“It is easy for people in large, very expensive cars to be judged. Should they feel that they should not be at the children’s centre because they have a nice car?

"So a person in a nice car cannot go through post-natal depression, or be going through grief or be attending a parenting course?

“I suggest we do not judge people by the car they drive, or the clothes that they wear. Mental health and depression is not written on the side of the very big expensive cars or painted on a person’s forehead.”

After being approached for a statement on Cllr Mallen’s comments, cabinet member for children’s services, Warren Whyte, said: “Early help supports all families who are struggling with a wide number of issues such as depression, money worries, lack of work, right through to parenting worries and behavioural issues with the children.

"These issues are not exclusive, they affect people from all walks of life and we support families irrespective of who they are or where they live.

“We know that some of our services, like children’s centres, could do more to support vulnerable children and families better. We appreciate that local residents are concerned about what will happen to the centres and some of the support that they offer at the moment.

"It is important to be clear that services such as grief counselling, health visitor clinics and parenting classes will continue to be provided by our health partners and through the new service.

“We have extended our Early Help review as it is important that we develop a model that will improve the lives of families who need us the most and that we take the time to get it right.”