A ROMANBY playgroup has been saved from closure - thanks to lottery cash.

Romanby Pre-school has been awarded £107,000 to pay for a new building and after-school facilities for children aged two to 11.

The organisation has had weeks of anxious waiting after bidding for lottery help.

Now winning the funding ends months of uncertainty.

The playgroup has been hit by accommodation problems since it had to leave St James' Church Hall where sessions had been held for 35 years. Meetings have been held at the Sacred Heart RC School and the Methodist church hall.

But a permanent solution was seen to be a portable building in the grounds of Romanby Primary School.

The project will be part-funded by the New Opportunities Fund, Lloyds TSB, Halifax and the group itself.

Playgroup spokesman Linda Walters said: "This lottery grant has saved us from certain closure and it means that 60 local children can continue their pre-school education.

"Without this money there would be nowhere for the youngsters to go."

The chairman of the Community Fund's regional awards committee, Elaine Applebee, said: "We are pleased to be able to add funding to that given by other partners to ensure the young children of Romanby get off to a good start with their education."