CIVIC chiefs have backed down and agreed to restore Boredom Busters day-long holiday schemes following protests from parents.

Bournemouth council had announced that due to "budget pressures" it would no longer provide activities across the full working day during the main school holidays.

Many parents feared they would have to give up work if the programmes were scrapped.

Cllr Anne Rey, whose Muscliff ward hosts one of the biggest schemes, told Tuesday night's meeting that it was "essential for hundreds of families". She suggested the schemes could continue if other departments helped fund it.

Yesterday the council said Boredom Busters will provide full-day activities for children during Easter and May half-terms.

A spokesman said following concerns from parents full-day activities will continue in the short term, at least for up to 50 places a day. Short session courses will continue to run as normal.

The day-long Boredom Busters schemes will also be funded by education and social services departments as well as leisure services.

Cllr Anne Rey said: "It's great news we have managed to secure the all-day schemes."

Single mum Helen Lockyer, of Calmore Close, Throop, welcomed the news. Her son Stefan, nine, is severely dyslexic and regularly attends the day-long schemes in the Easter and summer holidays.

She said: "I'm relieved. It has made the difference as to whether I can work in the holidays or I can't. I've been using it on and off for six years. Stefan has been going for two years. And he is with other children from his school as well."

Head of Leisure Services, Roger Brown, said: "We are looking at ways to make it more sustainable for the summer and beyond."