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Ministers have admitted 250 Sure Start centres have closed since David Cameron came to power in 2010., writes Nigel Nelson in the Sunday People.

But Labour says the figure is much higher and calculates more than 760 have shut.

Education minister Sam Gyimah says the shut downs followed local authority consultation with families about their children’s needs.

But Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt said: “The truth is, under the Tories there are ­hundreds fewer Sure Start centres ... another ­example of how they’re letting ­working parents down.”

During the 2010 General Election campaign Mr Cameron assured parents Sure Start was safe.

And he added: “We back Sure Start and want to expand it.”

Sure Start was the brainchild of former Labour PM Gordon Brown.

The centres provide childcare, early education and health and family support.

Mr Gyimah said nearly 2,700 centres across the country remain open.

And he added: “I am pleased more than one million parents and children are using them.”