Mums save toddler group

Rebecca Thorpe, Samantha Stannard and Theresa Thorpe took over the group's running with their friend, Sarah Jordan, when it was threatened with closure.

Their action means that its weekly sessions are carrying on for the forseeable future.

The sessions of the South Bersted Parents and Toddlers take place at South Bersted CoE Primary School between 9am and 11.15am each Monday.

Rebecca (25), of North Bersted, said: 'We didn't want the club to close because we enjoy coming here.

'It's all about meeting new mothers and seeing other people rather than sitting at home all day.

'It's also good for the children to mix with others.

'If the club had closed, then the children would not be able to do that and you get isolated and bored with your own company.'

The group has been running for five years but it looked likely to close when the children of the previous organisers moved schools.

Rebecca first went along to the group with her oldest son, Aidan Simpson (three), and continued when Ronnie (one) was born. Her sisters have one child each, Isaac (one) and Jenson (three), at the group.

Sarah has Courtney (three) and year-old twins, Tia and Skye, as members. They are some of the 14 youngsters, aged up to four years, who take part in a range of activities.

These include making posters and Christmas hats as well as decorating Christmas cakes.

The cost of attendance is 1 a family.