A MUCH-loved toy library is on the brink of closure due to financial problems.

City council funding for the Bulwell Toy Library was slashed in May and the library has struggled to raise extra cash.

The community group has played an important part in the lives of many Bulwell families since it was set up 30 years ago.

As well as loaning toys it provides a number of other services including after-school play sessions, family visits and gives parents a place to meet and discuss problems.

Project manager Steve Parkinson said: "We have about 100 families using us at the moment. We encourage children to play with each other, it's a learning process that people would struggle to get access to."

Bulwell parent Sam Keeton said: "I've been using the toy library for years now and it's brilliant. I couldn't afford to buy the toys new so it's great to be able to give my kids different toys to play with without having to worry about the cost."

In January the library will launch a new service, which it hopes will boost its funds.

Mr Parkinson said: "We're trying to launch a service to use our skills to help people."

Aimed at childcare professionals, the new service will allow people to hire toy packs from the library from as little as £5.

Packs will be assembled from more than 3,000 toys held by the library.

For more information call the library on 0115 975 3898.