PARENTS shocked at the sudden closure of their children’s nursery want to save it - even if that means taking it over themselves.

The governors of St Augustine's Primary School in Saint Augustine's Road, Belvedere, met on July 15 and decided to close its day care centre from August 1, citing high running costs.

Mum-of-three Helen Izuora, 33, said: “It was out of the blue. I went to pick up my daughter and I was just handed an envelope.

“All it said was that, due to issues of funding, they couldn’t afford to keep it open.

“I’m devastated. I’ve got three children and two of them are in the nursery.

“My six-month-old was due to be starting in October.”

After a meeting with the governors, parents and staff are now joining forces to find a solution which would keep the centre going.

This includes organising their own staff and management team to run it as part of the government’s Free Schools Initiative, which enables groups of parents or teachers to set up schools.

They claim other nurseries have got waiting lists of up to 18 months and they are satisfied with the one they currently use.

Ms Izuora, a project manager who lives in North Road, Belvedere, said: “We’re looking for anybody who can help us and advise us.

“We’re hoping some parents have skills in business start-ups.

“If the free schools programme is an avenue we can go down, then we want to explore it.”

Annabelle Killick's three-year-old son goes to the nursery and she is currently pregnant with her second child.

The 39-year-old, of Edward Roads, Belvedere, said: "This nursery is a life line to a hell of a lot of parents and the staff are absolutely brilliant.

  "Considering I've got four-and-a-half weeks until this baby's due I'm raring to go."

A spokesman for Bexley Council said governors had made the decision to close “reluctantly” because of high running costs.

He said: "A positive meeting with parents, governors and officers from Bexley Council was held on July 23.

  "Parents are keen to maintain the provision if possible and we understand that they are now considering ways in which this can be achieved.

  "We have offered our advice and will continue to keep in contact with parents as they look into this process."

Parents are looking for people with experience of childcare, business, accounting or finance to come forward and offer their skills. If you are interested, email SaveStAugustinesDCC@gmail.com