A CHILDREN'S club in a village near York is set to become homeless and could face closure.

Kiddies Corner Kids Club, which provides care for up to 26 children after school and in the holidays, is being evicted from the Old School building in Wilberfoss.

The building, which houses the village's playgroup, is being sold, along with the playground, and the children's groups have been told they must leave the site before it goes on the market.

Childminder Catherine Hyde, who has run the club for the last three years, said she had searched everywhere for somewhere they could move to.

The group has been offered a temporary building at Wilberfoss Church of England Primary School, in Storking Lane, but it will not be available until February.

Catherine has offered to buy the building to save the club, but she has been told she has to leave the premises before she can put an offer in.

"There is nowhere for us to go. We've been told we've got to get out now," she said.

The land is being sold by the Diocese of York, who will give the proceeds of the sale to Wilberfoss Primary School.

It could be sold to developers as there is already planning permission for housing on the site.

If Catherine manages to buy the building, she also plans to expand her childminding services and improve childcare provision in the village.

"I am offering to provide more facilities for the community. We have worked hard for three years and if we have to close until February it will be terrible," she said.

York Diocese spokesman Martin Sheppard said the diocese had a legal obligation to sell the old school and give the money to the primary school. The site must be empty before it can be put up for sale. "He said the children's club had first been given notice almost two years ago, but it had been allowed to stay until planning permission was gained for the site.

"Catherine had quite a long time to work out a contingency plan. If she was able to buy the property, I am sure everyone would be pleased with that outcome," he said.

"It is not an option for us to say she can stay put."

Updated: 09:20 Saturday, June 05, 2004