A family play centre should be saved from closure, according to a city councillor.

Councillor Marc Bayliss said Worcestershire County Council should do more to help Madhatters in St Nicholas Street, Worcester.

As we reported previously, Geoff Goring, owner of Madhatters, was given notice to quit by John Davis, the head tenant of Trinity House – the former Co-op building.

Mr Davis, who runs Whf Worcester on the ground floor of Trinity House, leases the entire building from the county council and sublets two upper floors to Mr Goring.

The former business partners and friends fell out over a dispute which is being settled through the courts. Mr Goring’s lease expires on March 11 and will not be renewed.

The closure will affect thousands of youngsters who use the centre every year and see 20 staff lose their jobs.

A petition set up by Mr Goring has more than 800 signatures and will be presented at a council meeting today.

Mr Bayliss, who represents Arboretum on Worcester city council, said: “It’s an absolute shame that a business like this is being forced out.

“I have a 10-year-old and a six-year-old and they absolutely love the place.

"If I ask my little boy on any given Saturday what he wants to do, he wants to go to Madhatters. I think it really does bring something to the city we haven’t got.”

Mr Bayliss questioned why the county council could not break the lease into two parts and deal directly with each of the men.

He said: “The county council has a moral responsibility to try and safeguard 20 jobs. If there’s an opportunity for the council to almost bang heads together it would just strike me as the most sensible way forward.”

Online readers of your Worcester News were also worried.

Angi R, Worcester, said: “It will be a tragedy for the parents of Worcester if Madhatters were to close and I would encourage everyone to sign the petition. Please can someone do something.”

Councillor Stephen Clee, responsible for corporate services, said the council was currently renewing the lease to the tenant.

He said: “We have made it clear we are happy for the existing sub-lease to Madhatters to be renewed and officers have been encouraging their tenant and Madhatters to reach agreement on that.”

There was no agreement yesterday but Coun Clee said he believed the two parties were close and in discussions.