Little Alberts preschool in Lyneham has been saved from closure after a multi-agency agreement was reached.

The preschool, which achieved outstanding in all areas in its last two Ofsted inspections, had been under threat because of the closure of the nearby RAF base.

But it has been given a stay of execution after a group of parents enlisted the help of North Wiltshire MP James Gray to keep it open.

Mr Gray said: “I am delighted that, at a meeting which I called at Lyneham on Saturday, a general agreement was achieved among the RAF, the Army’s IX (Supply) Regiment from Hullavington, Wiltshire Council and the parents’ group, that Little Alberts would remain open for the foreseeable future.

“There had been a concern that, with the withdrawal of the RAF and the interregnum before the Tri-Service training college arrives, Little Alberts would have to close.

“That would be bad news from the point of view of other local civilian children and, of course, would involve expenditure in re-opening the pre-school in only two or three years’ time.

“I am very glad that all of those concerned have come together and have found a formula by which Little Alberts can remain open in the interim with a view to expanding significantly when the Tri-Service training college finally arrives.”

RAF Lyneham is due to be shut later this year. The preschool is based in two MoD houses and it was thought they would have to give them back when the RAF withdraws.

Little Alberts manager Jean Rimmer and her staff had started facing up to the prospect of redundancy but can now start making plans for the future.

Mrs Rimmer said: “The problem has been getting everybody to agree on a way to keep it open. It is great news that everyone had combined to find a way forward.

“It is a temporary arrangement for now and we have yet to thrash out all of the details of what will happen.

“The last couple of years have been quite emotional and it has been hard work at times to keep going when when you think you may lose your job. But we have tried to stay positive and hoped something would save us.

“We still have hard work ahead. Numbers are very low for September because we haven’t been able to advertise. We only have around eight or nine signed up so now we want to make sure everyone knows we are open and sending your children to Little Alberts in September is now definitely an option.”