A PLAYGROUP that was on the brink of closure has been saved.

The Holy Rood Playgroup, based in the junior school of the same name in Walcot, was told in July that the Diocese of Clifton, which owns the land where it is based, would be terminating its contract and it would have to leave.

Committee members then turned to the public for help and were stunned when the local community stepped in and raised thousands of pounds to secure the playgroup’s future.

The playgroup, one of the oldest in the town, has now received £60,000 worth of funding from Swindon Council’s Sure Start budget plus funding worth £13,000 raised by the group volunteers.

Lainesmead Primary School in South View Avenue, Walcot, has stepped in to offer the playgroup a new home and it will be relaunched as the Shining Stars Pre-School at the start of the summer term.

Playgroup chairman Kelly Droulez said: “After what has seemed like a marathon journey with lots of blood sweat and tears, we are absolutely delighted we have managed to secure a future for our little playgroup.

“Those of us currently involved and those that have been involved know just what an asset this is to our local community and losing it was unthinkable.

“We can’t thank all those involved enough for their support and persistence and dedication in trying to find a positive outcome for all the families that the closure would have affected.

“It will be refreshing to be part of the Lainesmead community.

“They have made us feel so welcome and are so positive about us being on their site. They have a wonderful outlook on how important our little children are and how important it is to ensure that facilities like this are available for them to flourish in.”

The playgroup for three to four-year-olds was set up 30 years ago and was originally sited at Holyrood Infants’ School in Groundwell Road. It moved more than 20 years ago to its present site in a mobile classroom at Holyrood Junior School in Upham Road, Walcot.

Carmel Burton, the Sure Start partnership manager for Swindon Council, said: “Holy Rood Playgroup is in an old mobile building and it is literally propped up. It is falling down and has to have props to support it.

“We’ve been looking at alternative accommodation and were approached by the governing body of Lainesmead Primary who were keen to have a pre-school on site.”

Mrs Jeannette Turner, Lainesmead Primary School head teacher, said: “It is tremendous news for families in the area who will retain the highly regarded and popular playgroup in the heart of the community.”