Runnymede and Weybridge MP Phillip Hammond is supporting Brooklands College's decision to close its onsite nursery.

But he says the huge impact of the closure stems from a massive shortfall in nursery education in the area due to a lack of government funding.

The much-loved Little Brooklands Nursery in Heath Road, which does not figure in plans for a £80million expansion of the college, is one of only two full time nurseries in Weybridge.

Its earmarking for closure has left working parents concerned about finding suitable care for their children elsewhere.

"It's not Brooklands College's fault that the alternatives are so limited," said Mr Hammond.

"The college set up the nursery primarily as a service for students and staff. The uptake from them has been quite low and the nursery is running at a loss.

"It should not have to subsidise childcare services with a budget intended to provide high quality further education facilities."

He said the real problem lay with the government's threat to take away parent's right to "top up2 a subsidy for nursery fees given to them by Surrey County Council.

Under government legislation all children aged three and four are entitled to state-funded care while their parents work.

Yet Mr Hammond says currently local authorities do not receive enough money from central government to provide this.

Mr Hammond said people wanting to pay for childcare but with help from the local authority would be squeezed out of the system if "topping up" is banned.

He said for this reason good quality nurseries are not opening under fear they would not get enough revenue.

Parents were outside Weybridge Library on Saturday canvassing support to save the nursery.

They have an online petition at ipetitions.com/petition/littlebrooklands