PARISH councillors have thrown Little Marlow Pre-school a lifeline by agreeing a temporary reduction in its termly rent.

The school, based at the cricket pavilion in Church Lane, has been struggling financially after losing ten children from the roll.

Little Marlow Parish Council, which owns the pavilion, decided to agree to the school's request for a temporary rent cut while pupil numbers are low. Leigh Robinson, pre-school group leader, said the council has prevented the school's possible closure.

Mrs Robinson said: "We have lost ten children from the roll who we have not been able to replace. Like a number of pre-schools, we have suffered because first schools are now taking in children early. This has caused a very difficult situation for the pre-school. There was a possibility of having to close if our request had not been granted."

She said that after Easter, the school would open for four days a week instead of five to help cut expenses.

Mrs Robinson said: "The parish council has really helped out by agreeing to reduce the rent for the time being. We hope that by September the number of pupils at the school will be back up again."

Council clerk Gloria Barclay said: "We were told the school did not have enough children to make it financially viable so we reduced the rent. The situation will be reviewed again when numbers of children increase or at the end of the year."

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