March mum Hayley Gray claims three of her four children need speech therapy. Her eldest daughter Lydia, who is now eight, was first diagnosed with speech problems at the age of two.

It took years of waiting before Lydia was finally seen at the age of four, but within a short time the therapist had gone off long-term sick and Lydia was put back on the waiting list.

She was then sent to Peterborough for treatment only to be told she was not entitled to go there because it was outside her area and she had to again wait to see someone in March.

But when she eventually got to see someone locally they left and Lydia had to wait for a replacement.

By the age of five-and-a-half Lydia was diagnosed with severe speech problems. She went to a group session but Hayley said it was no good because Lydia was so shy, she wouldn't participate.

Lydia then received one-on-one sessions but her speech was so bad they started to teach her sign language.

She has since been discharged, even though Hayley said it can still be hard for people to understand Lydia but the speech therapists say there's nothing more they can do to help her.

Meanwhile Lydia's younger brothers Morgan (5) and Hayden (4) are both on the waiting list. Morgan is 10th on the waiting list and there is hope he will be seen before the end of the school year - July next year.

He has already been waiting over a year and has not seen anyone since his original assessment.

Hayley said she was told there is one therapist serving March, working two half days a week but she claims there is more than enough children on the waiting list to warrant a full-time therapist.

Tracy Hunns, also from March, also claims her six-year-old daughter Kacey has been let down by the lack of speech therapy provision in Fenland.

She was first referred for treatment in July 2007 when she was diagnosed with a hearing problem which in turn had affected her speech.

But she was only seen in May this year when the family were told Kacey could attend a session on a first come, first served basis on one of two days.

Kacey then had six 20 minute sessions over a six week period. She was due to start the next lot of sessions at the beginning of September, but these were cancelled because the therapist left.

"They have told me we will be contacted in due course when a replacement has been found. But there is no telling how long that will take. In the meantime Kacey still needs therapy to help with her speech," said Tracy.

She claims Kacey's school work is being slightly affected by her speech problems but praised Cavalry School for their help and support.

A Wisbech grandmother, who did not want to be named, said her two-and-a-half-year-old grandson barely talks and makes noises like a baby.

He had an assessment 24 weeks ago but the family have heard nothing since and say the toddler's lack of speech is holding him back and means it is almost impossible to potty train him.

Lisa Thompson said her twin son Isaac (4) has been on the waiting list for the past six months and said she was not given any time scale when he was referred for therapy.

"I asked how long we would have to wait and I couldn't get an answer. I've heard it can be at least a year. I'm worried because Isaac is now at school and I worry that this may hold him back," said Lisa.

John Peberdy, County Children's Lead, Cambridgeshire Community Services said: "We apologise for the waiting times and genuinely appreciate the impact that these have had on children and their families.

"Having taken on provision of speech and language therapy to children in the March and Chatteris area in September 2009 and Wisbech in April 2008 from alternative NHS providers, we are now making real strides in reducing waiting times.

"The number of children on the waiting lists have halved across the Fenland area since January 2009. These are are set to reduce even further having successfully recruited into a vacancy for a speech and language therapist to cover the March and Chatteris area who was due to take up the post on Monday (October 5).

"We will continue to work with NHS Cambridgeshire to identify what needs to be done to meet the 18-week waiting time which comes into effect in April 2010."