THE future of a village hall has been secured thanks to the opening of a new pre-school.

Since the beginning of the year, Heighington Village Hall has faced numerous funding issues while trying to raise money for the building's maintenance.

It suffered its largest blow when the decision was made to close Heighington Pre-School for good after a drop in the number of children enrolling made it unable to continue into the next school year.

Making up almost half of the hall's source of income, the closure was set to have a huge impact on the village and left some parents without cars stuck for where to send their children.

However, a Darlington pre-school looking to expand has secured both facilities for the foreseeable future.

Serendipity Pre-School, based on Willow Road, Darlington, will be opening a new pre-school in the village hall in September and extending its hours to 30 per week.

The new hours will mean the nursery can keep up with demand for full-time pre-schools in the area while its use of Heighington Village Hall will help to close the funding gap.

Stuart Allison, chairman of the Heighington Village Hall Association, said: “We’re very pleased. The pre-school has been here a long time and means a lot to the village. There were a lot of people who were sad when it closed. It’s a facility this village really needs.

“From a committee point of view it’s been a saviour for the village hall. We are delighted that it’s coming.”

Sam Donkin, who runs Serendipity pre-school with her daughter Nicole, said: “We heard that the pre-school was closing in Heighington and we thought it was a good thing for the village to have, because children can follow up to the bigger school there.

"My children went to the school in Heighington and I used to to be in the village on a daily basis, so we're excited to be going back.”

“We are rated outstanding by Ofsted which we hope to emulate in Heighington. It’s a nice village, people have been really receptive of us.”

Those who are interested in enrolling their child can call 07432 129909 or visit the pre-school's Facebook page at facebook.com/SerendipityHeighington/