Hard-up parents will be forced to pay more after a pre-school lost a bid for Lottery cash.

The Shepherd's Hill group in Nightingale Avenue, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, was to receive funding as part of an £888,000 bid for money to pay for services for the under-eights in the area.

The independent pre-school, which receives no state funding, needs £14,500 to pay for two staff salaries, as well as extra money to pay for the upkeep of its building, rent and insurance.

Now parents of the three-year-olds will be asked to pay an extra 50p for each session, which currently costs £2. Teresa Fieldwick, chairman of the pre-school committee, said: "We're having to ask parents who already experience financial problems for more money and we don't feel comfortable with that.

"We have 32 children who use the facilities here and we believe it is a vital service.

"We don't want to close down, so putting up our fees is the only option open to us. We have had to tell the parents and we're also meeting our MP to see what can be done. "Pre-school groups provide vital support for parents and an invaluable start for youngsters before they go to nursery - a lot of people would be lost without us."

The group, which relies on grants from the European Social Fund and fundraising activities, says more sponsored events will have to take place to keep it going.

The Lottery bid was submitted by the Blackbird Leys Community Development Initiative Under Eights Project.

It is thought some summer play schemes will have to be axed next year because of a lack of cash.

Story date: Saturday 08 April

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