A school for children with cerebral palsy set up by Second World War forces' sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn faces closure through lack of money.

The School for Parents at Ingfield Manor in Billingshurst must raise £250,000 a year to stay open after the charity Scope withdrew funding at the end of 2000.

Parents attend the pre-school unit for under-fives with their children, who suffer from cerebral palsy, which is caused by damage to the brain before, during or after birth, so they can learn alongside them and use the same techniques at home.

When funding was withdrawn, the Dame Vera Lynn Trust for Children with Cerebral Palsy was set up to raise money to cover running costs.

Enough was raised to secure the immediate future of the school but in April 2001 parents and supporters set a target of £1.25million, or £250,000 a year, to raise enough money to keep it open until March 31, 2006.

Dame Vera recently celebrated her 86th birthday by launching the third year of fund-raising.

She said: "We must raise £250,000 annually for the foreseeable future to ensure this facility is available to the families that need it.

"It cannot be allowed to close."

Dame Vera founded the pre-school and gave it to Scope ten years ago.

The school teaches conductive education principles, which parents can then use at home 24 hours a day.

Dame Vera said: "This self-help enables the children to realise their true potential and improve their quality of life and that of their families. It sometimes leads to them moving into mainstream education at normal school age."

Another of Dame Vera's charitable causes, Stars Organisation Supporting Cerebral Palsy, has been focussing on The School for Parents and raised thousands of pounds through events such as celebrity golf days and clay pigeon shoots.

Last year, it raised funds from the opening night of Chitty Chitty Bang-Bang in London.

Anyone wishing to help the appeal, either financially or by doing voluntary work, is asked to contact the appeals office on 01403 780444.