One of only two full-time nurseries in Weybridge will close if £80 million plans to expand Brooklands College are approved by Elmbridge planners.

The much-loved Little Brooklands Nursery provides childcare for 45 children of students and staff at the college in Heath Road, as well as the wider community.

Yet it no longer figures in plans for a massive expansion of the college funded by the Learning and Skills Council because the remit of the government agency is education and not childcare.

This has left parents devastated that the nursery, which opened in 2002, could be bulldozed as early as August.

"Everyone is rather shocked," said Weybridge resident Victoria Walton, whose daughter Freya has attended the nursery for one year.

"It's a fantastic nursery and all our children are so happy there. I don't understand why they want to take it away."

Parents want the nursery ro be kept as it provides education for children and supports staff and students who might not otherwise be able to attend the college.

Parent Bernhard Jongejan said the council would be wrong to let the facility disappear because under government legislation, councils have to ensure there is sufficient childcare in their area.

"Where are all our children going to go?" he said. "The nursery already has a huge waiting list and there isn't enough provision for them elsewhere."

Parents have written to MP Phillip Hammond and set up an online petition at www.ipetitions.com/petition/LittleBrooklands/.

Brooklands principal Colin Staff said the nursery was not performing financially and dwindling numbers of staff and students were using it, and they are the reason it was set up.

He said they never intended to run it commercially and were investigating the possibilty of an outside party running a similar enterprise on site.

They are currently consulting the public on plans for both its Weybridge and Ashford sites with a view to submit a planning application in March.

To see the plans visit brooklands.ac.uk