FURIOUS playgroup leaders are closing down their operation after a three year battle with Hyndburn Council over premises .

The Pavilion Playgroup in Oswaldtwistle was left without premises after a fire at its council-owned Coach House in Rhyddings Park.

Since then the group has rented St Paul's Scout Hut, in The Straits, and waited for the council to restore the Coach House.

But Carol Longworth and Anne Rawnsley say the council has ignored them and claim they can't afford to pay the rent at their present location.

Anne, who originally set up the playgroup, has resigned as supervisor and is now working with Carol on a casual basis.

Carol said: "Enough is enough. Here we are, 12 months after the fire at the Coach House, and we don't know if the council will restore it.

She and her colleague have now decided to close the playgroup in July.

Carol added: "The Scout hut was never supposed to be a permanent base because it is unsuitable. I am disgusted with the way the council has behaved. We feel we have been completely ignored."

Hyndburn's head of leisure services Stewart Kellett said: "A lot has been happening to find a solution to the problems in Rhyddings Park. We realise the park is in a state of decay but don't want to rush into refurbishing just one building when the whole park needs attention. We are waiting for more funding to totally revamp the park. The playgroup hasn't been ignored."

"If the leisure services committee agrees, we will be bidding for lottery cash through the Urban Parks Programme of the heritage fund."

If approved, the bid will be submitted in September.

"The playgroup organisers were aware of the time scale from the beginning and knew the council could not afford to rehouse them," Mr Kellett added. "They have not been ignored."

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