A PLAYGROUP that has been forced to close after more than 20 years threw a party to mark its last day.

Volunteers held a teddy bears' picnic and tea party for the remaining children who attend the Northlands playgroup in Darlington.

Elaine Wilson said: "It went really well and everyone enjoyed it.

"It was a bit sad because it was the last day, but it was a nice way to go out.

"We had about ten kids altogether. We used to have more than 25, but the numbers have just gone down and down."

The group has had to close because of falling numbers as a result of nursery schools now accepting children from as young as three years old.

Other play groups in the area have also suffered, but their numbers should increase now that Northlands has decided to close