So this is Xmas '“ you can keep it..!

The Acorns nursery which opened at the Shoreham hospital in 1993 for children of staff has been subsidised by the hospital trust but this year it is running at a loss of more than 80,000 - its highest figure ever.

Eight staff at the nursery will lose their jobs, some of whom have worked there since it opened.

A hospital spokeswoman said: "Despite numerous advertising campaigns to increase occupancy both from within the trust and the community the nursery is only 67 per cent full with currently, 30 children attending from Mondays to Fridays.

"The introduction of the free pre-school places in the national school system has had a significant impact on the numbers here. There is also a wide choice of other nursery and creche facilities in the area."

For the full story, see this week's Shoreham Herald.