Bosses at a charity pre-school have welcomed a decision which will allow them to keep operating.

The Kings Hill Pre-school was facing an uncertain future at its base inside the community centre in Gibson Drive.

Staff feared it would be left homeless when the building-owning parish council threatened not to renew its lease, which officially expired in January.

The group, which has operated there for the past 16 years, educates 60 children a week and employs 10 full and part-time staff.

Around 40 parents and supporters turned up at the meeting of the parish council where the possible termination of the lease was discussed.

As a result, the parish decided to hold further talks with the preschool which is run by a committee of volunteers, including parents, staff members and the head of a local primary school.

Committee chairman Lizzie Benge said: “We’re delighted an agreement was reached. They want us to pay more money, but they are not kicking us out.”

The pre-school had been paying £5,000 a year but for the remainder of 2023, they will pay £7,200.

From January they will pay £9,000 for a full year, which will be increased by the rise in the retail price index each year. The lease has been renewed for a six-year term.

The agreement was ratified by a meeting of the parish council on Thursday last week.

Mrs Benge added: “They took some persuading. I think it was not fully understood we are a charity and not a commercial profit-making business.

"But we had a good meeting, reached an agreement and we are now seeking to rebuild our relationship with the parish council.”

With that in mind, the preschool has invited one of the councilors, James Mackay, to join its management committee.

The council had initially sought to increase the rent to £12,000 a year, which would have been a 140% increase – inflation is currently 8.7%.

An online petition to save the preschool attracted more than 600 signatures.

It was inspected by Ofsted in January and received a “good” rating in all areas.

Manager Sherri Revelle said: “This is great news and a big relief for everybody.”

The pre-school’s past pupils include double-amputee Tony Hudgell.