PARENTS in a Ribble Valley village are appealing for a venue to be found for a 'lifeline' before-and-after-club for their children.

Currently the Conkers Nursery, Dewhurst Road, Langho, runs a club mainly used by pupils at nearby schools.

Youngsters can be dropped off at the nursery before school, and picked up afterwards, to fit in with their parents' working hours.

According to Ofsted rules the number of pupils attending the nursery is strictly regulated. But the nursery itself is now becoming so popular that the number of places on the before and after club will have to be reduced.

Nursery bosses are keen to continue running the club, but need to find a new venue. Today anxious parents appealed for help.

Kathleen Murphy, 38, of Walden Road, Wilpshire, is spearheading an effort to call for support from the local community, and is sending a letter to schools, churches and politicians. Her son Joseph, six, attends the club.

She said: "It's a lifeline for most parents.

I have spoken to some of the parents and I know some of them haven't found help yet. We are in a situation where we are stuck.

"I am appealing for help."

Under Government plans every school will be expected to be able to run their own clubs within the next few years, but there are fears parents who use the facility run by Conkers could be left without in the short-term.

Conkers, which currently has ten children attending the breakfast club and 16 the after school club, has been forced to send out 14 notices to parents advising them there will no longer be a place for their children.

St Mary's School, Whalley Road, Langho, are looking into whether they could host such a club

But there are no firm plans in place.

Stephanie Atkinson, manager of Conkers, said: "It was a really really difficult decision, and it was not made lightly.

"I myself have been in this position.

It affects parents to such a degree that they actually cannot work.

"They rely on that care quite heavily and it can have a detrimental effect on their family life."