I AM writing to inform you of the disgraceful way in which the council has acted in its closure of Handsworth Day Centre and the effect this has had and will have on my family.

We were not told of the closure until September 24. There was no consultation, just a meeting where we were informed it would shut on December 1.

The stress of finding another affordable nursery within ten weeks has been horrendous.

Our only alternative was the private sector. We eventually found a nursery but will have to pay over double, because our youngest son is still under two (it is £40 a day for him) and £22.50 for our oldest son of four.

This will give us terrible financial trouble over the next few months, until Thomas is two and then it will ease a little with his fees decreasing to £22.50 a day.

The council has run roughshod over everyones feelings at Handsworth in its attempt to ensure what it terms "efficiency savings". There was money allocated to Handsworth to keep it open until April next year. Ron Wallace of Social Services used this money for other "needy areas" after it had already been given to Handsworth. Handsworth was considered a non-essential service.

The other areas Ron Wallace is speaking of are areas where more closures are happening so what happened to the money for Handsworth?

JO MONK, The Hale, Highams Park.