By Jason Farrell, Senior Political Correspondent
More than 1,000 Sure Start centres could close if the Conservatives return to power after the General Election, the Labour party has claimed.
In their latest attack on Tory spending plans, Labour says that childcare costs have gone up six times faster than wages.
The number of available childcare places has fallen by 40,000, Labour says.
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Labour's shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said: "The Tories pose a real threat to Sure Start - a service relied on by thousands of working families.
"Before the last election, David Cameron said he would protect Sure Start, but since then there are hundreds fewer centres.
"If they get in again they'll do the same again. Their extreme plans mean over 1,000 of the remaining centres face the axe."
Labour says there should be a new statutory obligation on the centres to provide access to childcare.
They also want to give them new powers to open their doors to charities and local providers so the whole community can use them.
One spokesman at the Labour party told Sky News: "It's about turning the lights back on in buildings that have been effectively mothballed."
But the Conservatives claim there are 100,000 more places for parents to choose from and services have been merged rather than closed.
Responding to Labour's claims, a Conservative spokesman said: "Record numbers of families are using children's centres - this is desperate stuff from Labour.
"They are simply scare-mongering to try and get Ed Miliband's shambolic election campaign off the ground - it was Tristram Hunt who said he wouldn't open more Sure Start centres.
"Labour's lack of an economic plan would put these services under threat and would put our children's future at risk.
"Only the Conservatives can deliver the strong economy that allows us to invest in services like this and secure a better future for families."
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