The site of a Clacton convent and day nursery may be set to be sold off for housing.

But those running St Clare's nursery - which has been in the town for about 30 years - have vowed to carry on from a new base.

The Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception have put in for planning permission to develop the site of in Holland Road.

The move comes a year after the convent, which has existed in Clacton for more than 100 years, was threatened with closure.

Despite a bid to save the convent and the school, they are now to shut for the final time in July.

Lis Bennison, secretary of PACC (Parents and Parisioners against the Convent Closure) said it will be a very sad day.

"There will be more than a few tears shed when it finally closes but we have had to accept that will now happen in July," she said.

"It looks like the only way we could save it is with something like £250,000 to buy the site and obviously that is not feasible. It is sad because there has been a school of some kind there for 100 years."

Now the race is on to come up with cash to carry out improvements to a new home.

Mrs Bennison said the day nursery, which has about 80 children on its books, has looked at two possible options.

The first is at St James Church in Tower Road, and the other is at the Tiffany Stage Academy in Oxford Road.

Both will need toilets to be built for the children and other facilities upgraded.

The nursery has raised £1,500 itself and is now going for a £5,000 grant from the lottery.

Mrs Bennison said the nursery had a great deal of backing from the community and is confident it could achieve its target.

Both sites - should either be chosen - would need to be approved by Essex Social Services.

"We are determined we will be carrying on, albeit from a new site, but we will stay in the town," she vowed.

Parents are due to be told soon, and a meeting with them and prospective parents for the future will be held on March 25 to keep them informed of changes.

There are just two sisters left at the convent which has prompted the move to close it.

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