Staff and parents of a Worcester preparatory school facing closure have vowed to fight to give it a future.

About 80 people turned up to a meeting following the announcement this week that Sunnyside School in Barbourne Terrace will close on Wednesday December 14.

Parent Andy Graham, of Broomhall, who is among the group spearheading a rescue bid, said 80 per cent of parents were in favour of Sunnyside staying open permanently.

The school is split into two parts - a nursery for two to four-year-olds and a prep school for five to nine-year-olds.

On Monday evening staff and parents received letters from owners, brothers Jeff and Jim Jenner, a former Worcester Rugby Club player, stating the school section would shut at the end of the current term.

Mr Graham said: "On Monday and Tuesday when we heard the news everyone was upset and very annoyed. But we wanted something positive to come from the meeting. There is a lot of work in respect of keeping the school going."

But Mr Graham, who is experienced in business management, and the other members of the Sunnyside action group are hopeful a rescue package can be put together which might see the school run by parents and staff.

"We will be having meetings all over the weekend. We are putting together a package by Tuesday.

"Our objective is to keep Sunnyside going as a concern that is profitable and viable and perhaps to increase the size."

He said the Sunnyside Association, an old boys and girls association based in London, wanted to support the proposals which would be put before Mr Jenner as soon as possible.

Sunnyside School was set up in 1914 by Muriel Tysoe and grew in size and reputation until she retired in 1967. It was bought 18 months ago by the Jenner brothers, who already owned two nursery schools in Worcester and a school in Exeter.