THEY'RE wild about their new pre-school in Dibden Purlieu.

After five years of planning and raising support, Wildground Pre-School opened for business this week.

The new group is based at the local infant school in Crete Road, and the under-fives will get an early chance to enjoy school facilities.

"We have a very happy relationship with the school," said mother-of-two Diane Kingswell, one of the prime movers behind the new group.

"In fact the original idea came from Judith Kemp, Wildground's head teacher.

"She has wanted a pre-school here for a long time, recognising the huge need in the community.

"And our position within the school means we will be able to use the hall on wet days and can take our little ones into the playground when the bigger children are at their lessons."

For pre-school committee chairman Wendy Nutland, this week came as a great relief.

"I'm also a school governor here so I have been aware of the need for a long time," she said. "It has been in the planning for about five years. Then last year things really started to move, and finally we've got there.

"We have had wonderful support, not only from mums keen to use the group but also from other local pre-schools who gave us lots of toys and equipment."

Supervisor Fiona Fairbairn is already looking to the future.

"We plan to convert a small area of playground specially for our under-fives. We will need to raise about £4,000 but we have already applied for grants," she said.

"We also hope to extend our opening hours from 9-11.30am to include lunchtimes and eventually afternoons as well."