Organisers of a playgroup forced to move when its hut was condemned as unsafe say they are frustrated that nothing is being done to find them a permanent home.

St John's Hall in Lydalls Close, Didcot, was constructed from two temporary huts in a corner of Didcot's Manor Primary School playing fields.

St John Ambulance, which owns the building, leases the site from the education authority and was sub-letting part of it to Ladybird Playgroup.

Six months ago, an order was issued by South Oxfordshire District Council condemning the building as unsafe. The group now meets in Didcot Conservative Club.

Claire Jacks, secretary of the Ladybird Playgroup, which changed its name from the Co-op Playgroup in 1993, said: "The roof leaked and was affecting the electrics. Water dripped through the roof on the children as they sat on the toilets.

"Parents and staff had to scrub mould off the walls and ceiling whenever social services were due to inspect the huts in order to prevent it being closed down.

"Environmental health officers finally took the decision. And the floor was buckled."

Manor School headteacher John Hawkins said: "The site has become derelict and overgrown. The huts are a fire risk."

The school governors have written to Oxfordshire Education Authority demanding the building is repaired or demolished on safety grounds.

Playgroup organisers said they were grateful to be moved at short notice to Didcot Conservative Club.

But Mrs Jacks said: "I don't really want my son attending a playgroup in a pub.

"The whole question of the future of the building has got bogged down, and no one seems to want to make a decision."

St John Ambulance spokeswoman Karen Dickens said: "I cannot give a definitive answer. We have just received a building report estimating it would cost £10,000 to repair the huts, which is a lot of money."

Ladygrove Playgroup has offered to take over the lease and raise the money to rebuild the huts and has drawn up plans.

Alison Milward, of Oxfordshire's education property department, said officers hoped St John Ambulance would have carried out repairs by now.

She added: "We are looking at options and are taking legal advice to break the deadlock."