CASH set aside to save 'vital' services could end up going back into county council coffers amid fears communities may be charged up to £10,000 to rent children's centres.

A £1m fund was set up by Oxfordshire County Council for groups to run children's centres once it withdraws funding in April.

But council bosses have refused to reveal how much rent they would charge for the use of individual children's centres sparking fears it could become impossible to continue services for children and young families.

More than 140 people from across Oxfordshire attended a meeting at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday night to ask questions about the million-pound fund where it was revealed the council would be charging rent.

Save Our Children's Centres campaigner Jill Huish said it could put an end to communities running their own children's centres.

The mother-of-two said: "Everyone asked the same question. Rent, along with staff, will be the biggest costs and the fact we can't get an answer doesn't look positive.

"I'm really disappointed, we were led to believe this fund was an actual thing that could save universal services in the county but that won't be the case if they charge these rents.

"The transition fund always seemed like the crumbs we were being given from central Government and the council but now it seems the council wants those crumbs back.

She added: "One person summed it up best by saying they are giving with one hand and taking away with the other."

Town councils, parish councils and churches have been working together to draw up business plans - due to be submitted next month - to secure up to £30,000 of the money.

But county councillor Richard Webber said that was "impossible" without knowing how much rent they would be charged.

He said: "I'm very concerned - the transition fund is not necessarily the main problem - the key is rent.

"The council has to find some way to write off the rent or offer a peppercorn rent or I fear we are onto a loser here.

"Once they pay off the rent there won't be much left to actually run the centres."

In April Oxfordshire County Council will stop funding 31 of 44 children's centres and two of seven early intervention hubs.

Communities have been encouraged to work together to takeover services that could be lost with Bishop Colin Fletcher personally contacting individual churches to help the crisis.

But bids for the council's emergency fund, as well as optimism, has halted over the question of rent.

County councillor Mark Gray, who helps run the Cholsey Children's Centre, said it may not be able to continue if the council charged rent.

He said: "It's a vital service for young families and children in the area and it needs to continue.

"It costs around £23,000 a year to run and I think we could manage that with grants, fundraising and volunteering.

"But if we were charged £10,000 on top of that to rent the building I don't think we would able to do it."

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Paul Smith said: "Naturally, at this early stage, there are issues that need to be worked through regarding every single proposal and we look forward to progressing these in the coming weeks and months.

"That includes the issue of rents.

"We will review that situation in response to the points made to us to see what can be done."