PARENTS with young children have launched a rescue campaign to save the Westwood Village Nursery School from possible closure.

The nursery in Upper Westwood has been hit by a massive drop in the number of children attending.

It had been forced to close on Mondays because not enough children were being dropped off by mums and dads.

Michelle Green, who has managed the nursery for the past 13 years, said they had been hard hit at the end of the last summer term when 17 children had moved on to local primary schools.

“We now have only 12 children who are being dropped off by their parents on Tuesday to Fridays,” she said..

“If we don’t get more children we may have to close, which is a real shame as there has been a nursery school here for the past 30 years.”

Parents in the village have stepped up to replace one of two committee members who wish to resign. The chairman, Helen Vellance, has also agreed to stay on for the time being.

Secretary Tanya Langgner has stepped down and is being succeeded by Steph Lippiatt, following a meeting last Friday.

The nursery school employs two staff, Shian McKay and Theresa Pearce, whose jobs would be at risk if it is forced to close.

Mrs Green said: “I’m a little bit happier following the meeting, but I’ll be a lot happier when I start seeing children coming through the door.”

The school plans to put out new banners and put flyers through doors and has advertised in local magazines and newsletters.

One parent posted an urgent appeal for support on a social media site in Trowbridge, saying “the nursery is fabulous and I couldn’t speak any more highly of Michelle and Shian.

“The cost is low and fantastic, the Ofsted is fab and as you can see they’re very outdoors and love getting the kids out and about.”

The nursery school attracts children from Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Westwood and Wingfield, but is not on a bus route so parents have to drive there.

It will now stay open from 8.30am-3pm from Monday to Friday, offering care and education for youngsters aged two-four. At its last Ofsted inspection in June 2017 the nursery school was rated Good for all categories.

The school also organises activities and trips for the children, including local primary schools and libraries.