PARENTS are battling to keep open an Abingdon pre-school which may close unless more volunteers are found soon.

Riverside Pre-School, in Cotman Close, has been running for 41 years and helps young children with speech and language problems.

However, the pre-school is run by a committee of volunteers and a chairman, secretary and treasurer are needed by the start of the autumn term.

It is a registered charity and, by law, must have the key positions filled to be allowed to operate.

Doreen Brauer, school supervisor, said: “If this school closes it will be a major loss to the community. When I started in February, the school was not in the best of state and did not have a very good reputation. In just six months it has been turned around.”

The school has 35 children attending classes either on a full- or part-time basis.

Mrs Brauer, who used to work as a teacher in Germany, said her team of six had been working tirelessly since February with lack of funds to improve the school.

The 34-year-old mother-of-one, said: “The school was not organised before and we have built on that. The staff are more motivated, happy and interested in their work.”

Mrs Brauer said the treasurer had stepped down last month and the chairman and secretary announced they would be leaving in September.

She is appealing for people to come forward and fill the vital posts. The treasurer’s responsibilities would include completing the school’s annual accounts, sorting out banking, keeping fundraising records and applying for grants from the Government.

Mrs Brauer said: “We have appealed through letters to parent, local agencies and displayed posters at the pre-school.”

Rochelle Hall, whose son Matthew, three, attends the pre-school, said she had joined the committee and urged others to do so.

Mrs Hall, of Bridges Close, Abingdon, said: “The school is really friendly, the environment and learning is brilliant. Matthew used to be really shy, but since he has been going to Riverside he has really come out of himself.

“He has made lots of friends and it would be a real shame if it closed.”

Mrs Brauer said the pre-school had to raise its own funds and apply for grants as it received no funding from Oxfordshire County Council.

She said: “I have no regular budget and have to do what I can to try to raise money.”