AN early years funding crisis could force four North Tyne pre-schools into closure - leaving families to travel up to 20 miles to reach their closest childcare provider.

North Tynies, based in Bellingham, is consulting on whether to close its outlying pre-schools in Wark, Otterburn, West Woodburn and Greenhaugh in September, after a roll-out of 30 hours free childcare for three and four-year-olds has left them short changed.

Other pre-schools in West Northumberland are feeling similar squeezes, with Chollerton pre-school putting up fees for two-year-olds and asking for small contributions for snacks, to prevent it having to consider closure next year.

They are under financial pressure because the money they receive for providing free places does not cover costs.

North Tynies manager Helen Revels said that charges for looking after three and four-year-olds were £4.80 and hour, but only £4 was being allocated by Government.

Additionally, a Neighbourhood Nurseries initiative grant, awarded to North Tynies when it was set up in 2005, has run dry after 11 years of helping to sustain its pre-schools.

The double blow has forced North Tynies’ management to consider bringing children from all five pre-schools together in Bellingham.

Joanna MacNeil, who lives in Byrness, said the 35-mile round trip would give her no choice but not to send her daughter, two-year-old Scarlett, to pre-school in January.

“It’s just not feasible for me to take her to Bellingham because I work full-time,” she said.

“If the Government is going to fund something it needs to ensure provisions to make it work.”

Jordan Corbett, mum to two-and-a-half-year-old Harrison, who goes to Otterburn pre-school, said: “I would have to take my son out of pre-school because I wouldn’t be able to get him there.”

Mrs Revels added: “It’s heartbreaking. We completely understand parents will be feeling upset. It was an unpalatable decision to have to consider.

“It was either do this or do nothing; and if we did nothing we would be looking at no childcare available for 400 square miles. We would have to close completely.”

North Tynies estimates the funding crisis is so bad that, without action, it could be bankrupt within six months. The closures will mean some of the 25 staff – who work across all five pre-schools – are at risk of losing their jobs. North Tynies said it would do everything to avoid compulsory redundancies.