The costs of replacing the Holt village pre-school have dramatically increased because of the rise in material prices - meaning fundraisers will have to find more cash.

The shortage of materials hitting the UK building industry has had a knock-on effect on the fundraising campaign for a new building.

So far, fundraisers have collected £161,000 in grants, sponsorship and donations but say they may need to raise a further £40,000-£50,000 to make the project happen.

Holt Pre-school business manager Kate Buckrell said: "We are determined to make it happen. I don't want people to worry too much about it closing.

"I have applied for a government grant which we should hear about in two months' time.

"We have also received offers of timber and cladding but we may need to have a big rethink about the design if our government grant application is unsuccessful."

Mrs Buckrell said they may have to 'scale-back' the design for the eco-green building if materials prove too costly.

The community pre-school is able to provide term-time care for up to 20 children aged two and a half to five years, and has an Ofsted rating of ‘good’.

Earlier this year, the pre-school launched a fundraising campaign to provide a new building for the youngsters, who come from Holt and the surrounding villages.

The school said that its 50-year-old temporary mobile building in the grounds of Holt VC Primary School is no longer fit for purpose.

Wiltshire Council owns the building but in the current climate of budget cuts there are no funds to replace it.

The school says on its website: “The much-loved pre-school building has reached the end of its life and the cost of replacing it is far beyond our means.

“The pre-school is an integral part of the community so please support us on our journey to raise enough funds for a new building for both the children and the community.”

Fears over the rising cost of building materials sparked concerns among some worried parents that the pre-school may have to close if funds can't be raised to replace it.

Over the August bank holiday weekend, the village is holding its annual Holt Scarecrow Trail, which is hoped will raise more than £1,500 towards the project.

Local Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan has also pledged to walk the length of the Kennet & Avon Canal in October to raise further funds for the project through sponsorship and donations.

The pre-school says that if it does have to close, any funds raised would be distributed to other projects within the local community.