Wakefield nurseries closed by council

Two nurseries are to close in Wakefield, with another to be taken over by a community group, as the council aims to cut its budget.

Airedale and St Swithun's neighbourhood nurseries will close later this year after no alternative proposal for the running of the sites was submitted.

Pomfret nursery in Pontefract will be taken over by Woodland Community Group.

Wakefield Council said it could no longer afford to spend £171,000 each year subsidising the sites.

Janine Hayes and Saima Sherburn from the Pomfret Woodland Community Group said they were "delighted that a much needed and valuable nursery remains in the community".

The Labour-run council said the running and management of the Pomfret site would be transferred in the next few months.

Last year the council said it was being "forced" to consider the closures following the withdrawal of £67m of government funding.

The council said it also needed to make budget savings totalling £71m by 2015.