A PRE-school in Box officially closed yesterday, but staff and parents are still holding out hope for a new premises so it can

reopen in the future.

Magic Dragon Pre-school, which used to run from Box Cricket Club, has spent the last few months looking for somewhere new to run from, but because they are yet to find anywhere, regrettably it had to close.

But manager Sheelagh Jones is not giving up on the search for a new place.

She said: “We are still very much looking for somewhere to run and hopefully someone will come up with something. It isn’t looking too great but we aren’t dead yet.

“We are looking in Box and Corsham, but in Box we have exhausted all the possibilities there.

“We are just hoping we might find something as we are not ready to give up yet. We have been here 15 years.

“It is the end of an era for us, at least the end of this era. Hopefully there will be a new one to come where we can start again and carry on doing what we do so well.

“We have always had a good Ofsted and worked so hard to build up what we have.

“Magic Dragon’s heart is still beating.

“We had a pool party on Friday and a big bouncy castle before some of our children left to go on holiday. It was very lovely but there were a few tears shed.”

As well as looking for new premises, they are also on the lookout for a space where they can store their furniture and play equipment until they can reopen.

Mrs Jones added: “The most pressing need now is for somewhere to store the furniture and play equipment.

“We need somewhere dry and secure as most of our furniture is wooden.

“We have tried advertising around the village of Box itself for somewhere to keep our equipment while we continue to search for a new home, but without success so far.

“We really are in a desperate situation now and would be very grateful for any help that can be offered.

“We hope someone generous can offer something we can afford.”

Anyone who can help the pre-school with new premises or storage space for equipment, can contact Sheelagh Jones on 01225 742252 or themagicdragonps@hotmail.com.