A nursery will bar paying parents despite protests, it has been confirmed.

All Saints in Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, is switching to host free placements for two-year-olds from September under a government scheme.

Under-twos and fee-paying two-year-olds will not be allowed to join, angering parents, Labour ward councillors and Chatham MP Tracey Crouch.

Despite their protests the plans were finalised this week.

Labour group leader Cllr Vince Maple said pleas had “simply been ignored”, adding: “Families will have very difficult choices to make.”

Parents who already have children at All Saints will be allowed to stay, but will have to comply with a new half-day timetable instead of leaving their children all day.

Medway Council education chief Cllr Mike O’Brien (Con) said this was a “compromise” adding: “I’ve listened and reached a decision.

“We have a statutory duty to take disadvantaged two-year-olds and in this particular area there are unfortunately quite a few.

“We’re offering some 64 youngsters down there education they wouldn’t have otherwise received. That’s a good thing.”

Mum Louise Taylor will challenge the decision at a public meeting next month.