A HURSTBOURNE Tarrant playgroup has been forced to close after more than 11 years because continuing changes in legislation have made it 'too difficult' to carry on.

The Mulberry Bush Playgroup held its last session in the village hall yesterday after owner Madeline Wyles decided to call it a day.

She said: "Basically it is a shared hall and with all the Government rules and regulations it has become very difficult and we can't carry on. Lots of village playgroups have been forced to close throughout the country."

Traditionally, playgroups have been run by mothers but now all staff have to be qualified and the premises must meet strict guidelines relating to health and safety issues.

Madeline added: "We have to have a teacher child ratio of one to six, which isn't a problem.

"But we have to have enough children to fund the playgroup.

"If we had this amount of children all year round we would be fine but we are losing half the children every year as they go onto school."

Madeline has worked at the playgroup for around 10 years and has owned it for the last six.

As the Mulberry Bush is a privately owned playgroup it is not entitled to extra funding.

Madeline said she had tried to get a committee together but as it has to be made up of parents and guardians of children at the playgroup it had not been possible.

"I did not take this decision lightly," she said emotionally.

"The parents understand. If we had our own building we would be in control of everything.

"We looked around before we put the letters out and we did actually find somewhere but it was too far away for the children to travel."

Madeline's husband has also contributed financially to keep the playgroup running, which has kept it open for longer than was possible.

She added: "I would like to thank all the past and present parents, staff and children who have all been really wonderful and without them it wouldn't have gone on for as long as it has.

"I will miss them all."