A dance school and an under fives group based at Linwood Youth Centre, Deal, face a worrying summer with the future of the Mill Road building under threat of closure.

The county council is planning a shake-up of services for young people across Kent in a bid to save about £1million, involving job losses and clubs shutting.

On Friday Linwood Under Fives finished its term without knowing any information about whether it can reopen in September.

Manager Gill Castle said: "We have 35 children on our books for the start of the new term, also a waiting list, and our parents are worried about the future of Linwood.

"We are trying to stay positive, unless we hear otherwise during the summer, and we are full for September."

Nicole McArdle is a teacher at Deal Dance Centre with Linda Friend and, like Linwood Under Fives, only heard about the county council’s proposals after a phone call from the Mercury newsroom.

Mrs McArdle said: "No-one has told us anything and we need to know what is going on. Hopefully we will still be here in September and just hope we have something to come back to.

"We are none the wiser at the moment and not very happy with the county council."

At the moment contractors are replacing window at Linwood, which is opposite Victoria Park.

* For full story see the East Kent Mercury, July 21 edition