Toy library forced to close

12:08pm Tuesday 27th February 2001

A toy library that has been serving Croydon's children for the past 20 years has been forced to close because of a drop off in volunteers and members.

Playmates Toy Library, based in St James' Church Hall in Lower Road, Kenley, was offering up its abandoned toys to other toy libraries in Croydon on Saturday.

Chairman Jo Lowe, who started using the toy library in 1985 and had been a helper since 1988 said they had been trying to increase numbers for the past year, without success.

said: �We wanted the toys to be freely distributed to other organisations and not simply to individuals to keep within the ethos of the lending library.�

She added: �It has been a big part of my life but I guess I am now resigned to it closing.

�A lot of children now go to nursery classes and there has also been the growth of car boot sales where people can buy reasonably priced toys. Circumstances have changed and there is no longer a genuine need.�

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