A MUCH-LOVED community pre-school is on the verge of closure due to a fall in numbers.

Merley Community Pre-school could shut its doors as early as next week as the owners struggle to fill spaces.

Now parents have appealed for help to keep it open.

Nicky Rexon, whose three-year-old daughter, Alice, attends the pre-school, said: "All the parents and the children would be very sad to see it close.

"My daughter starts school in September so it would be a shame to have to move her now - it is unsettling for the children."

The pre-school is housed in the community centre in Harrier Drive, next door to the school.

Nicky added: "Most of the children here will be going to school together and it would be a real shame to split them up now."

The pre-school is run by a charity and has been in existence for 30 years.

A spokesman for the committee told the Daily Echo: "This is an extremely sad and sensitive time for all stakeholders involved with the charity namely staff, committee members, parents and of course the children themselves both past and present.

"We have always dealt with the many challenges faced not just by Merley community pre school in a positive manner, but recently the challenges became too great.

"The low birth rate experienced in the area, combined with rising costs and lack of take up is no reflection on the amazing staff and numerous good ratings of Ofsted reports received."

The announcement comes just months before take-up of nursery places is expected to go up when free care for three-and four-year-olds increases from 15 to 30 hours per week.

But the spokesman claimed hourly rates paid by the local authority are too low to make any difference to the decision.