HOLIDAY playschemes for school pupils in Chandler's Ford may be saved from the axe.

Councillors on the local area committee for Chandler's Ford have decided to investigate whether they can fund and maintain their own playschemes, after Eastleigh Borough Council gave them the chop.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, parents were shocked when they heard the schemes were going to be killed off in the council's budget plan as part of a bid to keep council tax rises below inflation.

An estimated 500 youngsters across the borough, aged between five and 12, took part in the schemes, but the council said it was too expensive to continue funding as it was costing nearly £120 per family each year.

Now Chandler's Ford councillors will investigate whether they can support their own playschemes for local schoolchildren.

Councillor Colin Davidovitz told the committee: "The Borough Council has decided, in its wisdom, to axe the holiday playschemes and quite a number of people are opposed to this decision.

"We have a duty to respond to the needs of our residents and here's an opportunity where we can do just that."

The councillor said that parents felt it was important that their children have the opportunity to be given educated and organised play activities during the school holidays.

The Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee will start the ball rolling to see whether financing and maintaining the scheme for local children is possible.

It will meet again on Wednesday, April 6 at 7pm in the Dovetail Centre at the Methodist Church in Winchester Road, Chandler's Ford.