Crabtree preschool in Hermitage to close due to rising costs

A preschool in Hermitage has revealed it is closing next month despite a fundraising drive to save it.

Crabtree Preschool will be closing on December 20 due to rising operating costs and a lack of new pupils.

The not-for-profit preschool has been supporting Armed Forces families in the community for more than 30 years – being situated close to the nearby Denison Barracks.

The school needed more than £20,000 to remain open until the end of the summer term in July.

But staff have so far raised more than £1,700.

Instead, the final amount will be given to staff who have sacrificed their redundancies to keep the school running.

Vvisit https://www.gofundme.com/f/saving-crabtree-preschool to support the fundraiser.

Staff are also organising sales of all remaining items between 11am and 4pm on Friday, December 22, and between 10am and 3pm on Saturday, December 23.

The address is New Community Centre, Crabtree Lane, Hermitage, RG18 9TJ.