A PLAYGROUP started by parents is still going strong 20 years on.

The King William Playgroup, based at the Savernake Street Community Hall, in the town centre, celebrated with a party inviting former staff and children as well as those who are set to attend the playgroup next year.

To mark the occasion, children made banners and flags.

Tracey McGunigall, was one of the founding members and after 13 years volunteering was employed as a member of staff.

She said: “I love it, it’s nice and friendly, I just love being here with the children. It doesn’t feel like 20 years.”

The group is run by a committee of parents alongside employed staff and feeds school such as King William Street Primary School and Lethbridge Primary School.

For the first 10 years it was run at the King William Street School then to accommodate growing numbers it transferred to the Savernake Street venue in 1990.

Ms Gunigall’s son Peter, now 23, was one of the first users of the playgroup.

He returned to celebrate the milestone bringing along 18-month-old daughter Lily with him. She is due to start there in September 2011.

“A group of members got together and wanted to start the playgroup, really it just took off from there,” said Ms McGunigall.

“We had a bit of fundraising, one member’s husband did a cycle ride to start it off, but it was all volunteering to begin with, we had members come in.”

Over the last 20 years the playgroup has grown from seven children to 24 each day and is already fully booked until September 2011.

Teresa Smith, supervisor of the playgroup for the last three years, said the playgroup has now decided to extend its service from 9am-noon on work days to 9am-3pm from September.

She said: “We do have lots of members volunteering to help, that like to come along.

“It’s brilliant and has a community feel, a relaxed atmosphere – everybody comments on how relaxed it is.”