PARENTS were left fuming this week after they were given just 30 days notice about the closure of a playgroup.

The pre-school, run by Safeway supermarket in Springfield Drive, Evesham, is shutting down after seven years. Nursery staff were told of the impending closure just 24 hours before breaking the news to parents last Friday.

Mums and dads were handed out 'bog standard' letters informing them of the closure.

Mother of two Lynn Chatfield said: "I am absolutely furious. 30 days notice is disgusting."

The playschool has been attended by more than 1000 children over the years and will be sadly missed. Mrs Chatfield said the playgroup was preparing her eldest child for school this autumn.

She added: "My daughter has attended four playschools in the area and this one I cannot fault. There is absolutely no way I can find another place before September."

Another parent said: "I was more disgusted about the fact that the staff were having to tell us. If I was them I would have walked out."

Nursery manager Kate Rowling said it was the staff themselves who decided to inform the parents. She said: "We wanted to talk to them personally. It is sad because we will miss all the children."

A spokeswoman for Safeway, Lynsey Sizer said: "It has been a really difficult decision to make and we have just been following our code of practice. The creche was not a financially viable option."

She added: "If people want to do something pro-active they can call our customer services department and make their feelings known."

All the playgroup workers have been offered alternative employment within the store.

l SAFEWAY Stores in Springfield Drive, Evesham has applied for permission to expand. A planning application has been put to Wychavon District Council for a warehouse extension to the supermarket.