A pre-school has started working towards raising a massive £200,000 in funds to pay for a new building.

Horringer Pre-School has 40 children attending and has now launched The Acorn Project to improve its facilities.

Manager Stephie Page said: “We were thrilled to launch the Acorn Project with an exciting week of construction activities for the children.

“This reflects our ethos of learning through play.

“We look forward to helping children learn and grow even more effectively in our new building.”

The current facilities were erected more than 20 years ago and are in need of replacement.

The pre-school launched their fundraising bid by organising a construction week for all the children and were visited by a digger – loaned by local construction companies Copec Building Contractors Ltd and TBS Hire.

Jenny Newcombe, chairman of the pre-school committee, said: “The committee is excited to work with the local community to fundraise for this much-loved pre-school.

“All of us are parents, and we have hugely valued the care and support from the pre-school to our children.

“We want to help the staff continue to provide excellent care to the children of the future.”

The new building would help reduce running costs as well as providing improved facilities for the pre-school, including a kitchen for the children and easier access to the copse next door for forest school-type activities.

The pre-school was last rated ‘good’ in an Ofsted inspection in 2016.

The community is rallying around to raise the money through fundraising events.

These include a sponsored slideathon for the children, parents taking part in a 10k obstacle race and a regular kids’ cafe with games in the Horringer Community Centre starting on Friday, June 2.

The pre-school committee is also planning to apply to various different organisations for a contribution.

Anyone who would like to contribute to the major project, either financially or through other support, should contact Stephie Page, pre-school manager, at manager@horringerpreschool.co.uk or visit www.facebook.com/horringeracornproject