An emergency meeting has been called to save an out-of-school club due to be shut down in less than two weeks.

Parents received notice by letter on Saturday that the Hopscotch club in Rectory Lane, Skipton, would fold on Friday, July 19.

The blow comes as the Government today released £220,000 of new funding for North Yorkshire County Council from the New Opportunities Fund, especially earmarked for out-of-school hours childcare.

The Bradford area also benefits, with about £270,000 going to nine organisations, including Keighley Kiddicare which gets £40,000 to create 24 places.

Skipton parents hit out at the closure decision - and short notice given - by Craven College, which has been financing the Hopscotch club for the past three years.

Craven College Principal Alan Blackwell has agreed to attend an emergency meeting tomorrow at the club base in Skipton Baptist church.

Also present will be Margaret Brice, North Yorkshire County Council early years partnership child care development officer, who recently visited the club.

Closure will leave up to 50 children without after-school care. And three members of staff will lose their jobs.

Parents have called on Mr Blackwell to postpone the closure to give them time to find an alternative financial backer.

They are supported by Craven District Councillor Andrew Solloway, who is seeking support from fellow Craven Councillor and North Yorkshire County Councillor Mike Doyle.

Councillor Solloway, whose five-year-old daughter Jodie attends the club, said he and wife Paula were shocked by the decision and he did not accept the college's reasons.

"It is a wonderful organisation - I can't find fault with it. The staff are excellent and my daughter is very happy there," he said.

"It is much easier to take over a going concern than to try and revive something that has been closed. I will be urging Mr Blackwell to give us more time."

Steve Duke, 41, of Granville Street, Skipton, whose four-year-old daughter Hannah attends, said it left him and wife Helen, 36, facing a crisis, especially over the summer break.

"Hannah was due to attend for four weeks in the summer - I don't know what we are going to do," he said.

Mr Blackwell said: "We want it to continue and we plan to be very supportive of parents. We hope there is someone out there who can take it on."

He said he had been faced with a staffing problem and there was also the financial issue of the college supporting the service.