PARENTS who send their children to the Montessori Nursery School at Tideford have launched a campaign to try and save it from potential closure.

The nursery, which has seven members of staff and 45 children on roll from a wide area, has been operating from the village's Methodist church schoolroom since 2007.

But now the building – part of the Saltash Methodist Circuit – is up for sale, and a row has erupted over the asking price, which nursery manager Liz Lloyd says has been upped out of the nursery's reach. Mrs Lloyd said the first valuation back in December 2011 was for £65,000 for the schoolroom and a garage, and she has a letter stating that.

But she says she was shocked that after a second valuation the asking price had gone up to £70,000 for the building they were using, and £15,000 for the garage as separate lots.

'I have had a phone call from the agent this week declining my offer at the original asking price,' said Mrs Lloyd. 'The nursery cannot afford any more and if the property goes on the open market I fear we will have to leave.

'The building is also in a poor state of repair and Ofsted has told us it needs improvements for which we have to reserve some funds.'

Children

Deputy manager Hannah Powell said: 'I've worked at the nursery since it first opened and it's a wonderful place full of happy children. I moved to Trerulefoot from Plymouth to be closer to work, and there isn't much around job wise if the nursery closes.'

MP Sheryll Murray, who has been contacted by parents, has written to the Methodist Circuit.

She wrote: 'I am respectfully requesting that the Circuit considers the community when selling the property. It would be a sad loss if the nursery had to close.'

A spokesperson for Saltash Methodist Circuit said: 'We did include the garage in the original valuation but have since had an offer on it which has changed the situation and puts us in a difficult situation.

'Our hands are tied by the charity commissioners and we are bound by them to ask for the market price.

'We are in consultation with Mrs Lloyd and are setting up a meeting with her. We will be doing our utmost to try and keep the nursery at Tideford.

'The proceeds from any sale will be used to continue the financing of a full-time youth worker in the Saltash Circuit.'