The minimum wage was introduced by the Government with the aim of preventing employers from exploiting their staff. Unfortunately it also seems to be preventing some small, mainly-volunteer organisations from continuing to operate because they cannot afford the costs the legislation has imposed on them.

The closure of the Wrose Bunnies playgroup has highlighted what could well turn out to be a widespread problem. The playgroup, a registered charity based at the Methodist Church in Thornacre Road for the past 14 years, has been run largely with the support of volunteer staff. However, as it is registered with the Pre-School Learning Alliance, under the minimum-wage legislation it must now treat those volunteers as if they were professionals and pay them £3.60 an hour - something its leaders say they cannot afford to continue to do and something the volunteers themselves say they do not want.

Any organisation faced with such a situation has limited choices: either substantially increase the fees charged, putting them beyond the range of some families, or spend a lot of time fund-raising to try to bridge the gap, or shut up shop.

Wrose Bunnies has decided on the last course of action. Many other, similar groups could find themselves facing the same dilemma.

The legislation was obviously drafted with the aim of closing every loophole to prevent devious employers circumventing the rules. It is unfortunate that, on Wrose Bunnies' experience, it appears to have achieved that aim so effectively that some pre-school children are losing their safe places to play and learn. Perhaps it should be reviewed.