Campaigners say they are "ecstatic" after celebrating their first victory in court in a bid to overturn council plans to shut 19 children's centres.

A judge at the Royal Courts of Justice yesterday told parents that a legal challenge against Bucks County Council's controversial plans could be "arguable".

Mr Justice Supperstone granted permission for a full judicial review of the council's decision.

James Betts, the public law expert at Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office who is representing the anonymous High Wycombe mother who has brought the legal challenge forward, said the full hearing will likely take place on July 2 and 3.

Campaigners and councillors travelled into London for the hearing.

Alka Dass, lead campaigner of Save Bucks Children’s Centres and co-founder of National Save Our Children's Centres, said parents have fought hard to get this far.

She said: "After fighting this battle for the last two years, I feel like parents can now see the finishing line and can see an outcome.

"I am ecstatic and cannot believe how far the campaign has come.

"The fact that this order has been granted for a judicial review gives all parents hope that the children centres could be saved.

"It’s been a long journey for us as a campaign group and parents have fought hard with protests, petitions, councillors calling the decision in, a legal challenge before with a letter and now finally the judicial review.

"We are very grateful to this mother who has launched this legal challenge."

High Wycombe mother Elvan Clarke added: "I'm very pleased that there will be another High Court hearing soon, giving this parent the opportunity to have their say in why our children's centres are so incredibly important for young children and their wider families.

"These last two years of campaigning goes to show that despite the size of what you might be up against, if you truly believe something to be fair and just, you shouldn't give in."

Mrs Dass says the reason why parents have supported the cause is because children's centres are a "vital service to families".

She added: "They help make children school ready, help parents to become better parents, provide guidance as well as early intervention and prevention.

"These are all important factors to consider but we must remember, a children’s centre is not a centre without the staff that run it.

"This isn’t just about buildings but about having that support and expertise and just knowing someone is there to help you and listen.

"The cuts being made by councils are very short-sighted and the costs will build up in response as the support centres provide help ensure parents can get help when it is needed before things get worse."

Wycombe Labour’s parliamentary candidate, Cllr Khalil Ahmed went to the hearing and also voiced his support for the "brave" mother - who wants to remain anonymous - for bringing the challenge forward.

He said: "This is an important legal challenge to prevent the closure of vital services and I am glad that the court has allowed for a further, detailed hearing in July.

"It is a shame that steps to implement the closure of the centres were not suspended by the court.

"Bucks County Council needs to keep Buckinghamshire’s children’s centres open to support the health of children and their parents.

"The mother who brought the case to court has had direct experience of the valuable work children’s centres do and that’s why I’m here today supporting her."

Bucks County Councillor Majid Hussain added: " I’m really pleased to hear the outcome of the hearing today that further legal hearing will take place, although interim relief was not granted we are hopeful that the decision to close the children centres may be reversed in the forthcoming hearing dates."