Angry mums are calling for a reprieve for a popular team in charge of a soft play area for young children at Dunstable Leisure Centre. They have mounted a protest petition urging mangers at Leisure Connection to drop plans to take over the running of the soft play centre.

At least 100 signatures are said to have been added to the petition already, by furious parents and grandparents who say that the current team is doing a great job.

In 2006, the team had stepped in to save the soft play area when a franchisee moved on. Now it is understood Leisure Connection plans to end that arrangement next month.

Protestors said they are impressed by how the team has ploughed profits back to transform the soft play centre, without putting up prices.

In a letter to the Dunstable Gazette newspaper, Mrs Pam Bree, of Luton, wrote: "It does seem so unfair that the reward for their hard work should be this bombshell from Leisure Connection, who have now obviously seen what a great job they've done and want to cash in on it."

A Leisure Connection spokeswoman said: "Leisure Connection has taken the decision to bring the management of the soft play area back in-house. This isn't a decision that has been made lightly, and our customers' best interests were at the forefront of this decision.

"Managing more than 60 centres across the UK allows the company to benefit from economies of scale, and access to national initiatives, which ensures that we are providing the very best service and delivering value for money to our customers.

"It's an exciting time for Dunstable Leisure Centre, and there is a great deal planned for 2009, which will result in a great deal of investment into the centre.

"New initiatives, new branding and new activities will see more children from the South Bedfordshire district ditching their computer games for their trainers as part of a more active lifestyle.

"We do appreciate the hard work, time and effort that has been invested into the soft play area over the past two years."