MORE than forty children from the Melton area could be left without a playgroup unless £70,000 can be found to repair their dilapidated building before October.

MORE than forty children from the Melton area could be left without a playgroup unless £70,000 can be found to repair their dilapidated building before October.

A rotting floor and poor disabled access could see their beloved group forced to disband, if the money can not be found for an alternative building.

The Melton Under Five's pre-school has been running in the village for 23 years and has been in the current building on Hall Farm Road for the last twelve, but organisers fear it will not make the grade in it's next health and safety inspection in October.

Yvonne Morgan, chairman of the playgroup, said: "We desperately need a new building as this one is falling down around us.

"We've been trying to raise the money to knock this building down and replace it with a new one for the last four years, but it doesn't look as though we are going to be able to do it.

"If we can't find the money our only option will be to close."

The group need to raise around £80,000 for a new building but, so far, the total stands at just £13,000.

Parents say losing the play area would be a huge blow to the community.

Lauren Gooding's four-year-old twins Adam and Jonathan have been regularly attending the group for several months.

Mrs Gooding, of Bromeswell, said: "The village desperately needs this group and it will be terrible if it is forced to close.

"The boys really enjoy it here and we were hoping that they would be able to continue coming here until they start school full-time in January."

Julie Moore's three-year-old daughter Jade has been coming to the playgroup for a year. Mrs Moore said: "We would be absolutely gutted if it closes. Jade loves it here and I'm hoping to send my son here when he's old enough as well."

The group operates two sessions every day of the week and is the only charitable, non-profit making playgroup in Melton.

Will you be affected if the playgroup is forced to close? Are you a member of a club facing a similar dilemma? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk