A PRESCHOOL which has served a community for more than 20 years will finally close because it can’t find a new home.

Lollipops Preschool was given notice in January that its home at Eastwood United Reform Church, off Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, would be sold by the church’s ruling Synod after its congregation had dwindled to three elderly members who felt they could not continue running it.

Owner Diane Allmark, who has run the pre-school since 1994 and has seen the children of parents she herself taught come through its doors, launched a desperate search with others to find new premises.

However, despite the efforts of her family, parents and community campaigner Paul Collins, no alternative has been found and she has no choice but to close Lollipops on July 17.

Diane said: “Staff are now leaving because they need to get other jobs and I have to keep certain ratios for the children.

“A lot of parents have said they would love to see me set up elsewhere, but I’m still a bit emotional about it.

“What’s upsetting me is this is happening despite our high standards and positive Ofsted reports. It’s not how I expected it to end.”

Paul Collins, who was a Lib Dem general election candidate in Southend West, said the council had assured him there were places available for parents within a mile and a half of Lollipops but the geography of area meant many parents would experience problems.

He said: “The Arterial Road forms a boundary to the south, which means it’s not that simple, and parents are going to have to make difficult decisions about taking their children to other parts of Leigh or even Rayleigh.”

The preschool had ten members of staff and currently looks after 55 children.