Plans to close 35 children's centres across the county have been branded "disastrous" by critics who fear vulnerable families will lose a "vital lifeline".

The sites offer a wide range of support for children aged up to five years and their parents.

Services include childcare, support with health and mental wellbeing for mums and babies, breast-feeding help, educational play sessions, and advice for managing food budgets and healthy eating.

But Kent County Council says it needs to save money as it has a backlog of £165 million in maintenance work across its estate which it cannot afford.

The proposed closures - which could save £6 million over five years - have been met with a wave of opposition from those who have benefited from the centres.

Scroll down for a full list of the centres at risk

Mum-of-two Hetty Genower, 38, credits the at-risk sites in Swalecliffe and Joy Lane, Whitstable with providing her with huge support.

“I found the services they offered me invaluable when I have two children just 14 months apart," she said.

“I don’t think I would have been as successful as a parent as I am now without their support.

“A sure-fire way of isolating mums when they are vulnerable is to close centres like this. It simply can’t happen.”

The loss of the Riverside children's centre in Canterbury would be "disastrous" for families, says Labour city councillor Mel Dawkins.

"This is extremely worrying because we are talking about the development of children at a critical time in their lives," she said.

"If this centre and others are closed, it will be a massive blow for the families for whom it is a lifeline. I am just not confident that level of support can be replicated in other settings."

The Riverside has previously been threatened with closure in a KCC cost-cutting plan, and only saved in a last-minute u-turn by the authority following uproar from hundreds of families.

Cllr Dawkins says she and other Labour members plan to start a fresh campaign calling for a rethink from KCC bosses on the latest plans.

Meanwhile, in Faversham, the proposal to close the St Mary's Children's Centre in Orchard Place and transfer its services to the existing Bysing Wood centre on other side of town has been branded "utter madness".

Swale borough and Faversham town councillor Hannah Perkin (Lib Dem), who used to work at the centre, says it would be at huge inconvenience and cost to parents.

"It would be a real retrograde step as all the evidence shows the importance of early years support and that it saves money in the long-run," she said.

"The closure would remove a vital safe drop-in for families and I have been contacted by many parents who are worried about it."

It is not the first time St Mary's and other children's centres have been threatened with closure, only for the proposal to be dropped after fierce campaigns.

Cllr Perkin is now urging families to respond to KCC's 10-week consultation, but says a public protest may also be planned.

Many have taken to social media to express their anger and concern over the plans.

Writing on the Faversham Residents Group Facebook page, former head teacher Paul Smith says: "In my experience I cannot stress the importance of maintaining these children's centres. Any short-term savings are only short-term, the benefits of them are all accrued in the long-term."

Kelly Baker says: "When my girls were little I used it a lot and staff really helped and supported me. It is a shame it could close.

"It is needed this end of town. With all the new houses being built and people with young families. I made a lot of friends there.

"When I was isolating myself, the centre helped me to interact with others. I don't know what I would have done without it."

Janine Harris says the proposal is "utter madness".

"I used to take my grandchildren there and don't understand why with all the new houses being built and more young families moving into Faversham they would even consider closing the centre," she said.

Dover district councillor Peter Walker (Ind), who worked in education for 39 years, says the potential closures would mark a “sad day”.

“When I was a head teacher at the Abbey School in Faversham, I ran a nursery to encourage teachers to return to work after having children, but it soon got full up with people outside of the profession – so great was the need for it,” he explained.

“Children’s centres and nurseries serve a number of social and economic needs. They are not just beneficial for the children, but for the parents as well.

“Young children, especially those that are only children, need the company of those that are a similar age. They will benefit from that interaction socially and in terms of behaviour and emotional wellness.”

The authority is reviewing and consulting on the services the 35 centres offer to see how any closures would affect users.

As well as children’s centres, services provided for other vulnerable groups are also at risk, including adults with physical and learning disabilities.

Some of the county’s “Gateway” centres are also likely to be relocated to other sites.

The review says there could be "more flexible outreach activities" and a drive to "making the most of existing and emerging digital technologies".

KCC leader Cllr Roger Gough says: "The changes would mean we would have a more manageable and affordable number of buildings across Kent, which would help us to continue providing services for people in a variety of ways."

He says the council has to safeguard itself against rising costs but the review also gives the authority the chance to assess alternatives and examine if services are in the right place.

"Residents value our community services and change is difficult," he said.

"However, we do need to look to adapt and evolve to make the best use of the resources and funding we have available and safeguard against rising costs."

A 10-week consultation on the review began on January 17 and can be viewed and commented on here.

These are the children centres and other services at risk:

Ashford

Ray Allen Children’s Centre, Stanhope Road, Ashford

Little Explorers Children’s Centre, Tenterden

Bluebell Children's Centre, Hitchin

Dover

The Sunflower Children’s Centre, Eythorne

Blossom Children's Centre, Walmer

Dover Gateway (relocated to Dover Discovery Centre)

Community Centre (for adults with learning difficulties), Walmer

Dartford

Greenlands at Darenth Children's Centre, Darenth

Maypole Children’s Centre, Joyden's Wood

Brent Children's Centre, Dartford

Temple Hill Children's Centre, Temple Hill

Dartford Bridge Learning and Community Campus, Dartford

Canterbury

Riverside Children’s Centre, Northgate

Swalecliffe Children’s Centre, Swalecliffe

Joy Lane Children’s Centre, Seasalter

Tina Rintol Children’s Centre, Hersden

Apple Tree Children’s Centre, Chartham

Northgate Hub (services for adults with disablities)

Folkestone

Shepway Youth Hub (Five)

Hawkinge Children's Centre

Dymchurch Children's Centre, Dymchurch

Lyddlestars Children’s Centre, Walland

Folkestone Sports’ Centre (adults with learning disabilities)

Gravesham

New Beginnings Children’s Centre, Whitehill

Gravesham Gateway, Pelham

Maidstone

Eastborough Children's Centre

Marden Children's Centre

Maidstone Adult Education Centre (relocating to Oakwood House)

Sevenoaks

Swanley Children's Centre

New Ash Green Children's centre

West Kingsdown Church of England Primary Children’s Centre

Spring House Children's Centre

Sevenoaks Leisure Centre (Adults with learning difficulties)

Swale

St Mary's Children's Centre, Abbey

Grove Park Children's Centre, Borden

Ladybird Children's Centre, Queensborough

Beaches Children's Centre, Sheppey East

New House Youth and Sports Centre

Thanet

Priory Children's Centre, Ramsgate

Callis Grange Children’s Centre, Broadstairs

Tunbridge Wells

Cranbrook Children's Centre

The Ark Children's Centre

Harmony Children's Centre,

Southborough Children's Centre

Tonbridge and Malling

Burham Children's Centre

Tonbridge Gateway