Childminders claim they have been banned from taking their charges to council-run children's centres at popular times.

Sutton Council barred childcare professionals from bringing tots along for allegedly taking up parents’ spaces.

The move angered childminders and the parents that employ them, who accused the council of discrimination.

Childminder Hazel Wheeler, 36, said: “This should be about the children, not about who takes them to activities. It is the children who miss out.

“The Government wants mums to go back to work, yet this will put off parents who employ nannies.”

The council said childminders were offered alternative sessions, but several told the Sutton Guardian this was not the case.

They said they were also turned away from activities that were not full, including an event at Cheam Library on Monday, where only two parents turned up.

Mum Louise Pushman, 39, who attended the session with her three-year-old said: “Usually it is a great social activity, but not any more.”

There are 14 specialist children’s centres in the borough, offering activities such as painting and singing to under-fives, but other activities also take place in libraries and schools.

Kirsty Jerome, the council’s education spokesman, said: “Childminders are highly valued members of our community and will continue to be able to access free specialist services just for them at our children’s centres.

“Some sessions are extremely popular and we have asked childminders to go to classes specifically for them. This is not a way of cutting services but to ensure all children can access them.”