Christchurch parenting pages on Facebook have lit up with desperate pleas for help, by parents left in the lurch by sudden closures of after school programmes

Parents, schools and staff have been given less than a week's notice that all MASH and CASPA programmes are closing, effective immediately.

In an email to staff, seen by our newsroom, the director of both brands blames cash flow issues.

The Ministry of Social Development says due to commercial confidentiality, the privately run programme providers are the best people to respond.

Newstalk ZB has approached the company director for comment.