Angry parents today blasted Essex County Council for withdrawing funding from the only pre-school in the district for special needs children.

Staff at the charity-run Wickford Court pre-school off Wickford Avenue, Pitsea, have told parents the school will have to close and won't re-open after half term on October 22.

The school is unique because it is small and only takes a maximum of ten children so the nursery nurses can work on a one-to-one basis with them.

Supervisor Carolyn Spillett has worked for the playgroup for 21 years. She said: "It's our size that is so beneficial and we support the families as well.

"We've had to tell the parents that as of October 22 we will no longer be able to operate because of a lack of funds. Since then I've had to deal with every reaction from anger to tears."

The school lost £25,000 of funding from Essex County Council at the end of March due to cutbacks and shortly after were told their tenancy agreement with Basildon council, which owns the property, would have to be renegotiated.

The school is the only pre-school in the area with staff experienced in learning difficulties, behavioural problems and disabilities.

The building also houses other agencies including a drop-in centre and the DEAF support group.

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: "As well as giving the play group three months' notice of our withdrawal of funding, we also paid their rent for the three-month notice period and linked them up with the Early Years and Childcare Partnership to help them secure alternative future funding.

"As a local authority spending taxpayers' money responsibly, we cannot promise funding indefinitely."