A PLAYSCHOOL that has provided a vital service to children in Penketh for nearly 40 years has closed its doors for the last time.

Penketh Playschool, based at the Methodist church hall in Chapel Road, has been forced to shut down due to the introduction of new Ofsted regulations and lack of funds.

Inspectors from the education watchdog visited the centre last year and told staff they needed to gain NVQ3 and NVQ2 qualifications - which would have meant reading and writing skills would have been taught - in order for the operation to keep running.

But this raised concern for many parents who just wanted somewhere for their children to go to play with other tots of the same age.

One angry parent said: "They will get plenty of schooling when they are five."

Shirley Hamer, who was chairman and supervisor at the playschool and had been involved with the group since it was established in 1966, said: "It is absolutely ludicrous and I have asked after all this time why do we need to suddenly have these qualifications, which cost money to get? The parents had got petitions going but to no avail."

The playschool was also suffering from funding problems, so it was decided the operation would have to be shut down, and parents have had to find alternative arrangements for their children.

Shirley says: "Generations of families have come through the playschool, and it did grow to having around 250 children at its peak. It is a shame that we have had to close."