Fundraisers are halfway towards the £10,000 they need to pay for a new home for their pre-school.

Such is the popularity of the South Marston pre-school that there is now a waiting list for entry, but this means the village hall where the children meet is no longer suitable for the growing group which has about 20 children on its books.

And now a charity fundraising group, The Friends of South Marston Pre-School, is aiming to raise enough cash to help fund a three-room mobile classroom in the grounds of South Marston Primary School.

After six months the group has raised £5, 035 towards its targets.

One of the rooms will be used as a permanent home for the pre-school and the other two rooms will be used as an information technology room and as a general teaching room by the primary school which is funding part of the project.

A planning application for the scheme will be considered by Swindon Borough Council at Monday's planning meeting.

Secretary Sally Marsden said: "The money we have raised so far has been as a result of various fundraising ventures. These have included a fete, donations from local companies and the sale of laminated place mats featuring photographs of pre-school children.

"The pre-school has gained a good reputation and we have a waiting list for people to join."

The pre-school was set up in September 1998 with just four children on the books and faced closure until sisters Helen and Celia Home gave up their teaching jobs to run the group.