A PRE-SCHOOL that has served a village for more than 30 years will be forced to close later this year, to the dismay of parents and staff.

Middleton St George Pre-School will close on July 22, dashing hopes of being included in the new £3.2m Middleton St George Primary School, and forcing its 55 children and ten staff to make alternative arrangements for their future.

The pre-school, in Neasham Road, which was until recently the only facility in the village for children aged under three, was forced to reconsider its future when the primary school announced its intention to open a nursery from the start of next academic year.

The primary school owns the building the pre-school operates from, and wants to reclaim it to use for its own nursery until a new building is completed in November.

Pre-school staff and committee members considered buying the building, but were told it would cost up to £400,000.

They say they are "devastated and disappointed" at the looming closure of the pre-school, which has been open since 1970.

Liz Mason, administrator of the pre-school who has worked there for 18 years, said: "There isn't enough room for both nurseries next to each other, so we are having to go.

"It's so disappointing, I really hoped we could have had a future in the village. All the staff here have worked so hard to make the pre-school successful.

"We are not a lavish area, and some parents can't afford to pay a lot for child care. We only charge £2.50 per session, and it seems unfair they could now be forced to pay more."

Pat Causer, pre-school leader, said there could have been a future in Middleton St George for them.

"We could have done before or after school classes, or accommodated children aged under three," she said.

"Some of our children are only two years old, and they are too young to be accepted into a nursery.

"It is going to be very sad to go, it's a real shame."