A CASH-strapped after school club could be forced to close if new premises cannot be found.

The Lepton-based Just for Fun Out of School Club is currently housed in a portable building on the grounds of Lepton Church of England Junior and Infant School.

But now they have been warned their base could be condemned, forcing the club to find an alternative facility or premises.

Manager Pip Youds said: “We moved to the building four years ago because we could not fit everyone in the Caretaker’s Cottage and so split the group into two age groups.

“At the time we made some improvements but it has now deteriorated through general wear and tear.

“There is also one wall which is rotten and needs repairing.”

Now staff and parents hope the community will rally round to help find a new home.

Just For Fun has more than 70 children on its books and offers before and after school care as well as a holiday club and a weekly toddler group.

It’s very much a life-line for working parents in Lepton.

Pip added: “Ideally we want to build a permanent home on the site where the demountable is.

“We are a non-for-profit organisation and have limited cash to fund a building project so we are looking at grants and fundraising as an option.

“If we were to move, finding an empty building suitable would be difficult and we can’t move far as it would make it difficult for parents.”

She said although it would not be ideal the after school club could be temporarily held in the school dining room.

Lepton School headteacher Lynn Lawson told the Examiner: “Just for Fun is a valuable part of school life and in the past we allocated £60,000 to renovate the Caretaker’s Cottage.

“However in a recent inspector’s report it was noted that the portable building was coming to the end of its life.”

Mum-of-two Claire Shepherd said: “My two children have been coming here three nights a week since last year.

“It would be horrendous if they had to close and it’s the kids who would miss out.”

Seven-year-old Xander’s mum Zoe Nash, 33, added: “If they had to reduce the numbers it would cause huge problems for parents.”

Mum Sally Kerrison, 33, added: “It’s nice having it in the school grounds so you know they are safe and there are no roads for them to cross.”

The portable building was first put on the site in 1994 for the pre school.