PARENTS and staff at a Beckenham nursery are appealing for a new home for their 32 children, through the pages of the News Shopper.

Kelsey Park nursery is being forced to close because its building, on the site of Kelsey Park School, in Manor Way, has reached the end of its 20-year lifespan.

Parents are frantically searching for a new site so the school, which has been on the site for 12 years, remains open after July next year.

They have written to MPs, councillors and every school in the area trying to find a new site so the three staff, Sarah Penhallow, Lena Pollard and Claire Walker can continue the nursery.

A new temporary building would cost the nursery £60,000 but, more importantly, the nursery needs somewhere to site it.

Denise Ponzecchi, 37, of Forster Road, Beckenham, who has two children at the nursery, is devastated by the closure.

She said: "I don't know why this is happening. All the parents will have to look for a new nursery and it will be difficult to find one where the parents trust the teachers.

"Frankly, it will be difficult to find a nursery where the staff are so dedicated and understanding."

The group was let down once when an anonymous wealthy buyer promised to fund a site and building, only to drop out at the last minute, leaving the nursery without a home.

At the moment it is believed a local rugby club and another nearby school are among those trying to find room for the tots.

Nursery school organiser Sarah Penhallow said: "We don't want to say anything too early because we have had our hopes raised before. Bromley early years department has been excellent trying to help us find a new site but, to be honest, we are now desperate to find somewhere so we can keep the nursery open."

Have you got room on your site for the nursery children? If you can help in their search for a new home in any way, call education reporter Patrick John on 01689 885724.

December 19, 2001 12:00