PARENTS are hoping someone will take over a day nursery which has been put up for sale.

Bucket and Spades Day Nursery and Kids Club, in Low Road, Dovercourt, will close at the end of February. Its owner claimed the venture is no longer financially viable.

Staff were told on Wednesday they would be without jobs next month, and parents were informed by letter the following day.

Owner Mary Piper, 56, said she had been financing the nursery from her savings.

Parents claim the closure has left them with little time to find alternative child care.

Alana Cornish’s three children all attended the nursery. She said: “A lot of the mums are very upset.

“We’re all really hoping someone will come forward and take it over.”

Mrs Piper set up the nursery 14 years ago and continued her work as a midwife to fund it.

She said she was unable to compete with Government-funded nurseries in the area, forcing her to sell up.

She said: “I’ve put my whole life into this. This has been very traumatic.”

Mrs Piper has accepted a job in New Zealand, and has employed a representative to see through the sale of the nursery.