A CASH-starved nursery school has been forced to ask parents to foot the bill for a burglar alarm after suffering a spate of thefts.

Turncroft Nursery in Darwen has made repeated requests to Lancashire County Council for security lights and an alarm. But for the last four years have been told no funds are available.

Governors and teachers have resorted to calling on parents to scrap plans to hold a sponsored sing-a-thon for a computer and instead raise cash for the much needed break-in deterrent, which could cost more than £1,000.

And as we reported in the Citizen last week the lack of funds has also hit the number of pupils the Highfield Road nursery can take. Dozens of youngsters are turned away each year because cash is not available to pay for an extra teacher.

Chairman of the governors at Turncroft Nursery in Darwen, John Shackleton, admitted they were suffering because of the shortage of cash.

"We have been told there is no cash left to pay for an alarm and our request for security lights has been put on hold again because the budget has run out. That's why we have involved the parents."

He added: "A major problem for us is that the school is in a bad state of repair because of cut backs and it is easy to break into - there have been several incidents recently. We have local residents keeping an eye out but it is difficult."

Mick Ashton of Philips Street, Darwen, whose son Callum attends the school, said parents were happy to do their bit to help with any fund-raising but were baffled by the current situation.

He said: "It seems stupid the costs of these break-ins keeps being met but no cash can be found to prevent them happening."

The sponsored sing-a-thon for the security system will take place in the nursery on Friday, April 19. Other activities are expected to take place to reach the target.

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