TWO nurseries and an after-school club in North Dorset will stay open after parents protested.

Dorset County Council had been looking at closing the facilities – used by 250 children – because it had projected losses of £134,000. But it now says it has found a new model to administer the Blandford Nursery, Shaftesbury Nursery and Oscar’s Out of School Club in Blandford.

Children’s services councillor Rebecca Knox said there should be no need for a subsidy, but she did not rule out staffing reductions or raising fees.

The club will continue as it was found to be cost-effective.

Campaigner Sam Elliot said: “It means a great deal. To have a nursery provision eight until six will help a lot of working families.

“Everyone can carry on with their working lives without having to worry about where their children are.”