Parents have joined forces to protest against the proposed closure of their children's nursery.

West Sussex County Council is considering whether to shut South Lodge Nursery in Crescent Road, Worthing, because they say it is under-used and not economically viable.

Mark Dunn, the council's cabinet member for children and young people's services, is expected to make a decision on the nursery's future within the next month.

Parents have formed an action group and rallied support for the nursery which they say is the best in the area and like a home from home for their children.

Worthing West MP Peter Bottomley is supporting their campaign.

The county council-managed nursery opened three years ago.

Tim Sorensen, of Angmering, near Worthing, chose the nursery for his two-year-old daughter Megan because he and his partner Ruth considered it the best on offer in the area.

He said: "Megan loves the nursery and we think she has done very well there.

"She is an only child and the nursery is like an extended family for her and her friends are like brothers and sisters.

"I can't believe the council would want to close it. It is well-run and has done an awful lot for my daughter's development."

Alison Marino, project leader for the Volunteer Centre, Brighton and Hove, agreed that the nursery was being under-estimated.

She lives in Browning Road, Worthing, with her two-year-old son Javier.

He has been going to the nursery since he was five months old.

She said: "I think it's a brilliant nursery and does exactly what it set out to achieve - providing excellent childcare in the centre of Worthing.

"My son absolutely loves it and because I am so happy with him being there, it means that when I go to work I can relax and get on with my job safe in the knowledge that he is being properly looked after.

"I think the most frustrating thing for me is the reasons that the council has given for wanting to close it."