Paying parents say their children are being forced out of a popular council-run nursery to make room for those on low incomes.

All Saints Children’s Centre is axing full-day placements and replacing them with morning and afternoon sessions. It will also only run during term times instead of all year.

It is because Medway’s 1,400 poorest two-year-olds are being given 15 hours a week each of free nursery care under a new government scheme, half of them from this September.

But the paying parents – most of whom work – say they are effectively being forced out.

Louise Taylor, 32, whose two-year-old son Henry attends the nursery in Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, is leading a petition against the move. The Castle Road resident works full days as a planning officer at Maidstone Borough Council, so she needs a nursery that serves lunch.

She said: “We pay the equivalent of for a private nursery. It’s rated outstanding by Ofsted. The staff are really professional, they’re well-qualified and my son has only just got to know them.

“Giving deprived two-year-olds education is great but it comes at the expense of my son because we’re not on benefits.”

Chatham MP Tracey Crouch (Con) has said she will lend Mrs Taylor support, as has Chatham central councillor Vince Maple (Lab).

He said: “We weren’t briefed. We’ve found out by various people coming to us and asking what’s going on.

“Part of the reason Sure Start has worked so well is it’s the whole community together. This subtle change means it won’t include everyone any more.”

It is understood a small number of staff face redundancy as part of the changes.

A council spokesman said paying families who need full days “will be helped to find childcare in one of the many good quality commercial day nurseries”.

She also said it was a statutory duty and the council will spend an extra £3.5 million a year giving free education to those who need it most.

She added: “More access to high quality nursery education by local families will mean their children will develop well and will start school ready to learn.”

A public meeting will be held at All Saints’ Church today (Tuesday) to discuss the possible cuts in services at All Saints Sure Start Centre.

Cllr Maple said: “We know Sure Start is a much-loved and valued service and we have been approached by many residents, which is why we have called this public meeting to tell people how they can send a loud message to the Tory council regarding this proposed cut in services.”

The meeting starts at 7.30pm at the church, which is opposite the centre in Magpie Hall Road, Chatham.