HELP us raise £11,000.That was the battle-cry today of parents and children of Shotley Playgroup.They are urgently raising funds to replace their aged headquarters with a fully-refurbished £38,500 building to cope with the growing demand.

HELP us raise £11,000.

That was the battle-cry today of parents and children of Shotley Playgroup.

They are urgently raising funds to replace their aged headquarters with a fully-refurbished £38,500 building to cope with the growing demand.

The popular playgroup opened in the Shotley in 1968 and now has 42 children on its books.

As well as the playgroup, the building acts as a venue for the mother and toddler group, the Rainbows and a health visitor holds a regular clinic at the site.

Committee member Rachel White, said: "The playgroup provides a valuable meeting place for parents and carers of young children as many families do not have the transport or financial means to use the pre-school facilities outside the village.

"The current building in the grounds of the primary school is in poor condition.

"It has been continually repaired over the last ten years and is now outdated and too small for the growing demand.

"We have recently done emergency repairs to the portable building to keep the playgroup open until the summer holidays.

"We are looking to replace it with a larger building which will be fully refurbished to meet the needs of the playgroup children as well as the older children who will be using it during the holiday club.

"There is nowhere in the village that offers this type of facility."

The new building will also be better equipped for children with special needs.

The money will be used to demolish the old building, clear the site, prepare the foundations and install a new building.

So far £10,000 has been raised, which includes lottery money and money from the Lloyds TSB Foundation. A further £17,500 has been pledged, but £11,000 is still needed.

They hope to have the money by the end of June so building work can take place over the summer holiday.

If you can help or would like to join the committee, contact Rachel White on 01473-787282.

The next fundraising night is a clairvoyant evening with Fiona Nicholls on April 28 at 7 pm at Shotley Village Hall.

A May Fair takes place on Sunday May 9 at 11 am until 3 pm at the village hall.

For further information contact the above telephone number.