FEES at council-run nurseries in Glasgow are to rise by more than 300%. From August charges will increase from £1.34 for a half-day session of 3 hours to £2 per hour.

It means the cost of sending a child full-time will rise from around £15 a week to £64 during term-time with higher costs during school holidays.

Glasgow City Council said the fee increase is necessary to fund a new policy of extending the opening hours of the city's 126 nurseries from 8am to 6pm, which aims to help more families get back into work.

Education chiefs said a reduced rate of 50p per hour would be offered to parents on benefits and argue the fee increase would allow more families to claim working tax credits, covering up to 80% of the cost.

But parents say the new charges will hit low-income families who have children in nurseries full-time hardest, with some forced to give up working.

Barbara Mair, 48, who has a four-year-old daughter, Hazel, at Bridgeton Family Learning Centre, said: "Private nurseries cost about £20 to £25 a day so the council has brought the state nurseries into line with this.

"State nurseries are supposed to be cheaper. There is no consideration for children who are in full-time.

"We are better off than a lot of people but there are a lot of working mums who will be hammered by it. It won't be worth their while working.

"Coming on top of the recent school closures, it is a double kick in the teeth."

Currently children aged three and over in Glasgow are entitled to 15 hours of free education, above the national level of 12 and half hours.

A number of nurseries are piloting the new admission charges and extended hours, including Crookston Early Years Centre and London Road Nursery School, where priority is given to parents in training or further education.

Early results of the pilot, which started in January, show a fifth of new applicants at London Road sought alternative childcare after being advised of the higher costs. Nine of the 126 nurseries are to close at the end of term.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: "The admissions system and pricing policy have been designed to ensure our services support parents returning to work, training or education - and that the cost of securing extended provision is fair and affordable.

"Glasgow already offers more free hours than any other authority in Scotland - and the new arrange-ments allow families extra childcare from as little as 15p per hour.

"Most parents will qualify for additional tax credit, meeting up to 80% of their costs, and reductions are also available depending on family circumstances."

A recent survey by the Daycare Trust and Children in Scotland showed local authority-run nursery fees in Scotland are increasing at almost twice the rate of those in England, and more than five times that of Wales. TIMES FILE: THE FULL LIST OF AFFECTED NURSERY SCHOOLS

Nurseries affected: Acredyke Nursery School; Adelphi Nursery School; Anderson Street Nursery School; Ardencraig Nursery School; Ardnahoe Nursery School; Arnwood Nursery School.

Barlanark Family Learning Centre; Beechwood Nursery School; Bellahouston Nursery Class; Belhaven Nursery School; Bellrock Nursery School; Bonnybroom Nursery School; Family Learning Centre; Bridgeton Family Learning Centre; Broomloan Nursery School; Buchlyvie Nursery School; Budhill Family Learning Centre; Burnbrae Children's Centre.

Caldercuilt Nursery School; Carmyle Nursery Class; Castlemilk Day Nursery; Castlemilk Family Learning Centre; Chesters Nursery School; Cloan Nursery School; Cloverbank Nursery School; Cowcaddens Day Nursery; Craigbank Nursery School; Craigton Nursery Class; Cranstonhill Nursery School; Crookston Early Years Centre.

Deanpark Nursery School; Dowanhill Nursery School; Drumchapel Early Years Centre; Drumchapel Family Learning Centre; Drumchapel Outreach Crèche; Dunard Nursery Class.

Eastwood Nursery School; Elba Lane Nursery School; Elmcroft Nursery School; Elmvale Nursery Class.

Fasque Family Centre; Festival Park Day Nursery; Fortrose Nursery School.

Garnethill Link-Up Crèche; Garthamlock Family Centre; Glasgow Gaelic Nursery Class ; Govan Family Learning Centre; Govanhill Nursery School; Greater Govan Mobile Crèche.

Haghill Park Nursery Class; Hamiltonhill Family Learning Centre; Helenslea Nursery School; Hilltop Nursery School.

Jimmy Dunnachie Family Learning Centre.

Kelso Nursery School; Keppoch Nursery School; Kincardine Nursery School.

Lamlash Nursery School; Langa Street Nursery School; Langside Nursery School; Laurieston Day Nursery; Lime Tree Day Nursery ; Linthaugh Nursery School; Lochview Nursery School; London Road Nursery School; Lourdes Nursery Class; Lyoncross Nursery School.

Machrie Nursery School; Maryhill Park Nursery School; Milton Community Nursery; Molendinar Family Learning Centre; Mosspark Nursery Class; Mount Florida Nursery Class.

Nithsdale Road Nursery School; Novar Nursery School; Onslow Drive Day Nursery; Our Lady of the Rosary Nursery Class.

Parkhead Community Nursery; Penilee Nursery School; Pikeman Nursery School & Family Learning Centre; Pollok Children's Centre; Pollokshields Nursery Class; Pollokshaws Day Nursery; Quarry Brae Nursery Class.

Renfrew Street Nursery School; Rosshall Nursery School; Rowena Nursery School; Royston Nursery School; St Angela's Nursery Class.

St Bridget's Nursery Class; St Clare's Day Nursery; St Constentine's Nursery Class; St Fillan's Nursery Class; St Francis' Nursery Class; St Mark's Nursery Class; St Mungo's Nursery Class; St Timothy's Nursery Class; Sandaig Nursery School; Sandy Road Day Nursery; Sandyford Day Nursery; Scaraway Nursery School; Shawbridge Nursery School; Sighthill Nursery School; Springburn Nursery School.

Thirlstane Day Nursery; Thornlaw Nursery School; Thornwood Nursery Class.

Victoria Nursery Class; Wellfield Nursery School; Westercommon Nursery.

Westercraigs Nursery School; Westerhouse Nursery School & Family Learning Centre; Whiteinch Nursery School; Willows Nursery School; Woodacre Nursery School; Woodside Nursery School; Wyndford Nursery School.