POPULAR children’s play centre Madhatters looks set to close.

Thousands of Worcestershire children, including those with special needs, use the city centre facility in St Nicholas Street.

However, the centre’s owner Geoff Goring said they will now miss out because he has been given notice to quit the two floors he uses in Trinity House, the former Co-op building.

The centre’s 20 employees have been told it will close its doors on Saturday, February 26.

Mr Goring claimed the situation was a result of a falling-out between him and John Davis, who leases the entire building and sublets part of it to him. His lease is due to expire in March and he has been told it will not be renewed.

He has appealed to Worcestershire County Council, which owns the building, to lease his two floors directly to him but it has refused to do so.

Hundreds of families have now signed a petition appealing for the council to intervene.

As well as providing play equipment for youngsters, the centre runs free mum and toddler classes and subsidised prices for disabled and special needs children.

Mr Goring, aged 62, said dozens of local schools, social services and Sure Start have all used Madhatters.

He said: “Our customers are very upset and disappointed. I’ve had tears and tantrums at the reception desk.

"I’ve had to cancel all parties that had previously been booked for March, April and May.”

Former friends and business partners Mr Goring and Mr Davis fell out. Their dispute is still being settled through the courts.

Mr Goring, who runs the business with his partner Patricia Littlewood, wants the county council to lease the top two floors to him when the building’s entire lease is up for renewal in March, but it has declined.

“They said there was nothing they could do,” he said.

“I think it is a case there is nothing they want to do.”

Mr Davis, who owns Whf Worcester Ltd on the ground floor of Trinity House, said: “Mr Goring’s lease expires on Friday, March 11, and he has known that since the first day he signed the lease and we don’t wish to renew the lease with him.”

A council spokesman said: "The council is renewing its lease to the tenant who sub-lets to Madhatters.

“The renewal of the lease to the subtenant is a business matter for that subtenant and the intermediate tenant.”