Louise Sanders, of Tennyson Avenue, contacted the Journal after finding out the summer holiday scheme at the Meres Leisure Centre was cancelled because of staff shortages.

Louise, who took her seven-year-old son James to the scheme, works as a PA and struggled to find child care.

She said: "It's a total shambles the way this has been handled. It's disgusting the way we and our children have been treated.

"We're now going to have to rely on family members and neighbours to help with child care."

A council spokesman said two members of the team of eight running the scheme resigned suddenly, forcing its early closure.

The scheme could not have continued without falling short of Ofsted rules on qualified staff ratios.

Acting corporate head for healthy environment Joyce Slater said: "We appreciate that this was very short notice and we have apologised to the people affected.

"It's a shame but I'm sure that all parents will understand our decision to close the scheme was made with the children's best interests at heart."

The government-funded play schemes were also running at Belton Lane Primary School and were due to end this week.

Some 50 children aged five to 11 had been attending the scheme at the leisure centre, doing sessions of free play, arts and sports.

Parents will be given full refunds and should call the customer services team on 01476 406080.

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