Almost half (54) of 126 local authorities have seen the number of Sure Start centres in their areas reduce 50 per cent or more.
Department for Education figures show that In April 2010 there were 3,516 centres compared with 2,323 at the start of this year.
Essex saw the most centres close (19) with numbers reducing from 85 to 66 centres.
Gateshead lost 14 of its 15 Sure Start centres, leaving just one for the area which has a population of around 202,500 people, according to the Office for National Statistics.
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