THE last glimmer of hope has faded for campaigners fighting to keep a well-loved Lancaster nursery open.

Lancashire County Council voted to shut Greaves Park Nursery School last year - though the ultimate decision laid with the Lancashire schools organisation committee.

And it has now decided that the school should definitely be closed.

Swarms of people paraded through the city's streets and signed petitions in a bid to save the nursery - described by many as a 'magical paradise' - after it was earmarked for closure as part of a major review.

Cllr Shelia Denwood, who fought tooth and nail for the nursery to remain open, says it is a very sad decision.

"I'm disappointed after all the hard work that we have done. We have fought valiantly to try and save Greaves Park, attended all the public meetings, demonstrated and carried out a leaflet campaign to no avail," she told the Citizen.

"It's a shame because it is such a happy place and there will be lots of disappointed children and parents. But now we just have to accept the decision."

The county council concluded that the building on Bowerham Road had reached the end of its life and to maintain it and bring it up to scratch would cost £100,000.

Greaves Park and Willow Lane nursery schools will now close and a new school for 80 children will be opened at the Willow Lane site combined with a 52-place nursery class at Bowerham County Primary.