STAFF and toddlers at a popular village playgroup are celebrating after it was saved from possible closure.

Hartlebury Pre-School Playgroup, which was set up in 1968, had been faced with the prospect of being homeless in September.

It has used a classroom at Hartlebury CE First School for the last three years but it was feared the arrangement would have to end because of expansion caused by Wyre Forest's impending education switch to a two-tier system.

It has now been agreed by the school and Worcestershire County Council that the group, which has toddlers aged between two and four, can remain on the site.

Parents launched a £100,000 fund-raising campaign last year to try and buy new premises for the nursery.

The appeal is continuing with the aim of purchasing a base to secure the long-term future of the group.

Deputy supervisor, Tina Mann, said all the staff were delighted by the news, which also meant five jobs were saved.

She added: "It is wonderful.

"We all probably feel equally relived because September is getting closer and this has put our minds at rest.

"Since we have used the classroom at the school the nursery has gone from strength to strength and it would have been a massive shame if we would have had to stop. We already have more children than ever starting here next year."

Zoe Cookson, project manager for the Wyre Forest Schools Review, said: "We want to build and develop schools and are trying to do all we can to support community groups that provide services like this."