One of the longest-running summer holiday playschemes in the county may fold - after the resignation of its committee.

Kidss - Kids in Didcot Summer Scheme - catering for up to 200 youngsters aged five to 11 for two weeks in August, is in the process of being wound-up.

But after no-one came forward to join the committee at the annual meeting last week, former playleader Anne Collins said: "I am determined Kidss should not go under"

Although the terms of the scheme's charitable status now require Kidss to be formally wound-up, Mrs Collins, has called an extraordinary general meeting in the hope of saving the scheme.

Mrs Collins was playleader at Kidss for ten years until she had to call it a day because of work and family commit- ments.

She said the five-member committee of parents stepped down because of the pressure on their time.

Mrs Collins said: "Realistically, Kidss needs at least 11 people on the committee - to raise money, recruit a playleader and play assistants and organise an interesting programme for the children."

The extraordinary general meeting will be held at the King Alfred Drive Community Centre on December 7.

Kidss was launched more than 25 years ago at a time when such playschemes were in their infancy.

It was so successful that the scheme, which receives a grant from South Oxfordshire District Council and Didcot Town Council, was taken up as a basis for other holiday playschemes in Oxfordshire.

Mrs Collins said: "The amount of responsibility for the committee has increased because of regulations imposed through the Children Act and Social Services, although if there are enough people on the committee the burden can be shared."

Story date: Saturday 27 November

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