Devon County Council has recently closed homes in Barnstaple and Exeter, which provided accommodation for up to 13 children.

Now it is reducing the number of places at Brookhayes in Exeter by four.

The council, which cares for 700 children said it was trying to move away from institutionalised care and increase foster placements.

Sixteen staff will be affected and the council said it was working with unions to try to redeploy employees at its remaining children's centres.