CHILDREN and staff at Stratton Playgroup have given their thanks to local businesses for supporting their project to create a brand new garden.

The small part-time charity playgroup on Thessaly Road in Stratton accommodates around 17 children on its busiest day of the week yet staff have seen a worrying drop in the number of children attending.

The group has been running for over 40 years and this is the first time they have experienced a loss. It relies heavily on the community and businesses for support and help with fundraising.

Chairman of the group Meryl Miller said: "We've done lots of fundraising and we've just done-up the garden. Austin's Country Store donated stone slabs for us to put down and W.Risby Ltd gave up their time to lay the slabs.

"We've also had help from The Round Table as we joined their Santa Sleigh Ride around Stratton and from St James's Place. It's thanks to these companies that we were able to transform our outside space."

Any businesses looking to help Stratton Playgroup with fundraising events or any parents thinking of enrolling their children can email meryljm@hotmail.co.uk