Children’s centres across south west Hertfordshire will remain open after new contracts were agreed with service providers.

The futures of all 82 centres - including the Berrygrove Centre in Watford, Rickmansworth Children’s Centre and Park Street and St Stephens Childrens Centre - have been secured.

It comes after Hertfordshire County Council signed new deals with centre service providers, which will save £2 million.

From April 1, 17 organisations will be charged with managing the county’s newly formed children’s centre groupings.

Cabinet Member for Children’s Services Councillor Richard Roberts said: "I am delighted the new programme builds on the acquired knowledge and understanding of our communities to deliver the right levels of support. This will ensure our children get a flying start to life.

"Early year’s standards are already high in Herts, this new programme should build on that giving families the right level of support and confidence to succeed with their children."

The authority claims that by grouping services together, the council will be able to provide a ‘consistently good service’.

According to Ofsted, 78 percent of children’s centre in Herts are ranked good or outstanding.

The centres will remain open to all families with young children and will also work more closely with other providers which deliver related services including GPs, schools and midwives.

For a list of providers visit www.hertsdirect.org/childrenscentres