CHILDREN’S centres should be brought back in a bid to cut obesity rates, Labour have urged.

Councillors say the centres would support young families unable to call upon help from other family members and friends.

But the leader of Swindon’s Conservative-held council has dismissed the call as disappointing, saying Labour are “seeking to play party politics” with the town’s children.

The spat comes as new figures show that Swindon has the highest rate of severely obese reception-aged children in the region. By the time they reach five-years-old almost three per cent of Swindon children are deemed to be in the highest body mass index category.

Figures from the government’s National Child Measurement Programme also reveal that over a third of children aged 10 and 11 are overweight or obese. The Swindon figure is the highest in the south west.

Swindon GP Peter Swinyard told the Swindon Advertiser that it was becoming more unusual to see a slim child at his practice.

Responding to the figures, borough council officers said tackling childhood obesity was at the top of their agenda. A school fruit and veg scheme and weight management programme had been put in place to try and bring children’s weight down.

But the council’s Labour group called for the reopening of the Sure Start centres. In 2014, the borough agreed to consult on proposals to close the children’s centres after criticisms that they were not reaching the town’s most vulnerable children. The closure plans were also intended to save over £700,000.

Coun Carol Shelley, Labour spokesman for children’s services, said she had no confidence in the council to tackle the obesity rates: “The fact that Swindon has the highest number of reception age children with severe obesity in the south west yet again reflects the impact to our town of losing all its children’s centres.

“Sure Start children’s centres were in place to help young parents with looking after their children. Healthy eating courses were just one of the ways children’s centres helped young families.

“Now support to young families is minimal. For some young parents who have the support of their families that’s okay. But for young families who do not have that support network, they really need support and advice from the council and they’re not getting it currently.”

Coun David Renard, leader of Swindon Borough Council, shot back: “How disappointing that the far-left Labour group should seek to play party politics with Swindon’s children and try to solve the problem just by throwing taxpayers’ money at it.

“The responsibility for children’s nutrition, exercise, and environment starts with the families themselves, not the state.

“The council, schools, clubs, faith groups and all other parts of the society all have a role to play, but must never seek to replace the family. The council, with its partners, is taking an appropriate role to support families through the Swindon Healthy Weight Strategy.”