WORKING parents in Skipton could be forced to give up their jobs unless their childcare provision can be saved from closure.

Craven College announced this week that it could no longer run Hopscotch, the last out-of-school club in Skipton, and originally said it would close before the summer holidays - cancelling the planned holiday playscheme.

But, after a meeting on Wednesday and numerous irate calls from parents, the club was given a temporary reprieve.

The college said it would run the holiday scheme as a gesture of goodwill but could not be responsible for it come September.

Hopscotch has 50 children on its books and has proved a lifeline to working parents. Staff collect children from school and care for them at Skipton Baptist Church until as late as 6.30pm.

Parent and Craven District Councillor Andy Solloway, said his daughter, Jodie, loved going to Hopscotch.

He said he saw three options for the future of the club. Either it was taken over and run by a committee of parents, it was run by a private enterprise or the local primary schools got involved in its operation.

He urged anyone with any expertise in childcare schemes, or anyone who could offer financial backing, accountancy skills, or administration support to contact them.

"We want to attract people to work but the odds are stacked against them in terms of childcare," said Coun Solloway.

Craven College principal Alan Blackwell said he had to close the scheme because the funding was to help provide education and training for people at the college. He had discovered that only four children on the books had parents linked to the college.

He added Hopscotch's co-ordinator had resigned and he was having trouble staffing the scheme.

Mr Blackwell apologised for the notification letter being sent to parents only two weeks before the school holidays.

Steve Duke, whose four-year-old daughter Hannah attends Hopscotch, said the parents were pleased the club had been saved for the summer but he still felt as though they had been left in the lurch.

"We don't know now what is going to happen," he said, and added that although it had been suggested working parents run the club themselves he feared few would be willing to take on that responsibility.

The bombshell news has come in the same week as the Government gave £220,000 to North Yorkshire County Council from the Lottery's New Opportunities Fund for out-of- school hours childcare.

Margaret Brice, the county council's early years partnership child care development officer, is offering help and advice to try to find a way forward for the club.

"Partnership working is the way it should have been done in the first place, and hopefully it will be the way forward," said Coun Mike Doyle.

An emergency meeting has been planned for Tuesday at 7pm at the Baptist Church. Anyone who can't attend the meeting but wants to help should call Geoff Garrett on 07796 137898.