Edinburgh Leisure, the company which runs leisure centres across Edinburgh on behalf of the local authority, has announced that it will close all remaining crèche facilities by March 2010.

Crèches at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre; Drumbrae Leisure Centre, Gracemount Leisure Centre and Portobello Swim Centre will all be axed unless an alternative provider can be found in order to save costs. Edinburgh Leisure said it can no longer afford to subsidise the crèche facilities - which currently costs the company more than £12 per visit - due to an expected 12 per cent reduction in funding over the next three years.

Keith Jackson, Edinburgh Leisure's chief executive, said: "None of the parties involved in this process wants to take this action, however, acting now to make these cost efficiencies will enable us to continue to protect the future of sports and leisure services for the long term."