A vital parent support programme is set to close this week after its contract with the council has come to an end.

Thurrock Community Mums and Dads, a “peer support” programme with branches in Grays, Tilbury and South Ockendon, will close on Wednesday August 31

The endangered service’s funds were extended for a year last year after an outcry was raised across the borough to save it.

The service helps young parents come to grips with their new life as a parent by offering post-natal support, breastfeeding advice and parenting support.

Resident body Healthwatch, which represents patients across Thurrock said they were “fighting on” to make sure a new service would take its place.

Kim James of Healthwatch Thurrock said a service to help young mums and young children across Thurrock was “essential.”

She said: “A service needs to be there in Thurrock whether it’s the service it is now or a new one.

“We have got a lot of young mums across the borough who need support.

“A lot of parents in the borough don’t like to use social care services, they prefer peer to peer.

“We are fighting hard to make sure a service remains for those mums and dads who need it.”

The Healthwatch body said it had been working with the council on ‘replacement services’ which will take shape in September.

A council spokesman said health visiting to all parents and infants age 0 to 5 in Thurrock would continue and they were working to provide “more integrated” services.

Health portfolio holder James Halden also added the "most vulnerable would be protected."

Councillor James Halden, said: “We will transition to a more joined-up and integrated approach to delivering parental support in the future with less duplication.

"We are also working with partners to ensure the most vulnerable are protected.”

Tania Sitch, Integrated Care Director, NELFT said: “As a key partner in delivering services to new parents, NELFT will continue to work with Public Health and the community to ensure a smooth transition for parents and that Thurrock residents continue to receive a good service from the Health Visiting Teams.”

A spokesman for the council said: “Since inheriting responsibility for commissioning public health nursing services from NHS England in 2015, Thurrock Council has a contract with NEFLT (North East London Foundation Trust) to deliver health visiting to all parents and infants in Thurrock.

“This service will continue to offer support to all children aged 0 to 5 and their families. This will include feeding and parental support within both the home and clinic settings.

“Thurrock Public Health is working with partners to develop services for Thurrock residents in a more integrated fashion.”

Thurrock NELFT Health Visiting Service contact details can be found on the NELFT website: http://www.nelft.nhs.uk/services-thurrock