STAFF at a pre-school in Amesbury are desperately trying to find a new home for the group to save it from closure.

Parsonage Road Pre-School is currently based in a rented classroom at Christ the King School, where it has been for more than 25 years.

However the primary school has now said it needs the classroom back, as new housing being built in the area has meant increasing pupil numbers.

Staff at the pre-school appreciate the school’s needs, but now need to find a new base for the 30 children currently on their books, as well as new children due to start next year.

“We knew somewhere along the line it was going to come, but it was just a shock when it did,” said manager Jan Tryhorn, 53, who has worked there for 23 years.

“We fully understand why the school need to do this as we ourselves are also receiving an increase in demand for pre-school places.”

After looking at various premises in the town, they approached Amesbury Town Council about the possibility of using the pavilion in Holders Road.

“We can see great potential in this building,” said Mrs Tryhorn. “We can already visualise how it can be made into an excellent setting in which children can play, grow and develop in the important years before starting school.”

Town councillors discussed the proposal at a meeting held last Tuesday and agreed it would put the building to good use.

Councillor John Noeken said: “I think we should give support to the pre-school in order to take this project forward to see if it is feasible.”

They voted in favour of supporting the plan and discussed forming a working party to deal with the application – what needs to be done and what can be done – while advising the pre-school on funding.