A community pre-school has made a desperate plea for help as it embarks on a £100,000 fundraising campaign for a new home.

Cliffe Woods Pre-school needs to raise the funds to create a new building in the grounds of the village primary school in View Road.

The nursery, which looks after about 80 children, currently uses part of the school but has been told it can no longer stay because the school needs to expand to meet demand for places.

The pre-school hopes to raise enough money to create a modular building which will cost at least £100,000.

They have written to all parents and are appealing to people in the village for advice and support. They want to hear from those who have experience in planning permission, modular buildings, groundwork, grants or fundraising.

Mum Sam Bailey sits on the committee and her son Josh, three, goes to the pre-school. She said: “We were told at the start of term that the school would not be renewing the lease. It was a shock but everyone is pulling together.

“We all want the same result, and that’s to keep a pre-school in the village.

"It was a shock but everyone is pulling together" - mum Sam Bailey

“Everyone wants to help as they don’t want to lose the pre-school but we need help from outside too.”

The pre-school has been in the village for more than 40 years.

It offers child care for younger children as well as a breakfast and after-school clubs for children up to the age of 11.

The letter to parents said: “We understand that this is a massive challenge for the community and we will not be able to complete this relocation without the full support of all of the parents both past, present and future.

“This is a registered charity community preschool, breakfast and after school club that has been running in the village for over 40 years and it is the responsibility of the community for it to continue operating.”

Raya Ellis, who runs the pre-school with Wendy Snowden, said: “We have had a really good response. We are working with the school and they have been really helpful.

“We have got a great committee and everyone is feeling really positive. We already have some fundraising events organised and we’ll be setting up an online donation page.”

It is hoped the new building will be ready to move into by September next year.

To find out about future fundraising events, which include a Halloween party and a quiz night, search Cliffe Woods Pre-school on Facebook.