Broadcasting union Bectu has annoyed the BBC after it used the Children in Need logo in a campaign to prevent the closure of the corporation's childcare facilities.

The Pudsey bear image appeared on the union's website, provoking BBC representatives to ask for it be removed, as its use infringed copyright laws.

According to reports, over 1,000 signatures were collected on an online petition demanding that childcare provision should be improved at the BBC, before the logo was removed.

Bectu is campaigning against the closure of seven BBC nurseries, and for nursery places to be made available for all staff with childcare problems. It says if the BBC nurseries are to close it will mean the end of all childcare provision for BBC in the UK.

The BBC announced the closure of its nurseries in November, though in future staff will still be able to obtain child care vouchers which can be used at participating nurseries.

The union believes the new scheme this is a money saving exercise for the BBC, telling Broadcast: "The scheme is tax efficient for the staff member, but for each one who signs up for the vouchers, the BBC will enjoy a significant reduction in its National Insurance bill and in effect will make a large cash saving."

A spokeswoman for the BBC added that they were "not removing childcare benefits" but introducing new benefits aimed at "offering a wider provision and making the system fairer to all staff".