PARENTS have spoken of their shock after the University of Bradford announced the future of its city centre nursery was under review.

A petition to save the nursery, based off Laisteridge Lane, has attracted almost 370 signatures in just a few days.

The nursery was set up to provide childcare for students or staff at the university with young children. However, it also offers spaces to the wider public.

The University said the review had come about because the majority of children there were from families with no links to the establishment.

A statement from the university said: "The University is committed to supporting staff and students with young children, and our nursery has been part of that support.

"Over the last few years, fewer and fewer staff and students have been making use of the nursery, preferring to use alternative provision. We are now at a position where more than 50 per cent of users are members of the public rather than staff and students, for whom the nursery was primarily intended. Therefore, this service is under review to ensure we can focus help and support more effectively on our staff and students' needs."

A decision on the nursery's future will be made on Wednesday, June 17.

The petition, which is addressed to the university's vice chancellor Brian Cantor, says: "The nursery has been a valuable resource to thousands of families with childcare needs over the past 23 years.

"It is a safe, nurturing and loving environment for children from all backgrounds during their most formative years."

Sarah Cartin's two children attended the nursery when she was a student, and still go to a summer school there.

She said: "I know opposition to any plans to close the nursery will be overwhelming. It is not right they have announced this when a lot of students have started their summer holidays."

Tristam Carson, a mature student from Eccleshill studying at Bradford College, currently has two children at the nursery.

He said: "I can see where they are coming from, the priority should be to staff and students at the university. But hearing about this so late doesn't really give us any option to explore alternatives."

At its last inspection by Ofsted in 2013, the nursery was rated good, and the report said 80 children were on the roll.