A PRE-SCHOOL centre is campaigning to raise £250,000 to avoid closure

Fernbank Pre-school based at the Methodist Church in Lammack, Blackburn, is running at a loss because of rent charges and risen wage bills.

It needs to raise the capital to relocate and build on a new site on Lammack Primary School's grounds.

The move would save a service that has been running for 32 years offering pre-school care, breakfast clubs and school escorts to more than 30 families a day.

Manager Pat Nuttall and desperate parents have written to companies across East Lancashire begging for financial support.

Pat said: "We need to move to be a viable option. If we move we can offer more services during the day or after school. At present the rent and the national increase in the minimum wage have made it too costly and prohibitive."

The centre, which has been given good inspection marks by the education watchdog Ofsted, is working with Blackburn with Darwen Council to come up with solutions.

It has also acquired a Quality Assurance Award from the Learning Alliance.

Applications have also been made for Lottery funding.

But without the funding the centre, which operates as a registered charity, could close before March next year. It ran at a £4,500 deficit in the last financial year. A financial review will take place in August.