SIR,

Through your paper, we the staff of Raglan Stepping Stones Playgroup would like to take the opportunity to thank children and parents/ carers past and present for their support over the years.

We are a committee-run, charity registered (not privately run) playgroup in the village, sited within the school grounds and have been at this address for the past 30 years.

The group has, in fact, been in operation since the 1960s and originally started life in Llandenny Village Hall before moving, first to Jeffrey's Hall, Raglan, and then to its present location.

Unfortunately the number of children attending the playgroup has fallen recently, in fact having only seven children on our register makes it unviable for us to continue to function.

We are therefore in the regrettable position of having to close.

The staff have a combined service of approximately 50 years and we have all thoroughly enjoyed working with the local pre-school children, seeing them develop and progress sucessfully into the neighbouring school/ schools.

We are devastated that Raglan Stepping Stones Playgroup will be closed at the end of October 2012 and that the village will be losing a not-for-profit playgroup of such long standing.

The Staff

(Raglan Stepping Stones Playgroup