THE 27th Crowborough 10K Road Race, organised by Crowborough Road Runners, took place on Sunday, when conditions were good for this popular, two-lap course around the roads and lanes of Crowborough.

The weather was dry and overcast, while little wind meant the splash through the ford, which marks the start of the long climb up Palesgate Lane, was less chilly than usual.

Many of the 350 plus field achieved race-best times, including an excellent winning ladies' time from Deidre McDermott, the best for some years.

Results: men: 1 Timmy Gedin, Arena 80AC, 35min 49sec, 2 Gary Judges, Hailsham Harriers, 36:16, 3 Daniel Pink, unaffiliated, 36:19; ladies: 1 Deidre McDermott, Tonbridge AC, 37:49, 2 Maria Heslop, Paddock Wood AC, 38:32, 3 Tina Oldershaw, Paddock Wood AC, 39:01.

Two of the club's own members were running: Alan Stewart 41:43 (42nd), Anna Tolmachova 43:47 (74th).

This is an important fund-raising event for the club, which has helped many local charities over the years with donations made to several organisations, including the Air Ambulance last year and the Crowborough Lions, who have always helped marshall the race.

The club thanks all those who gave up their time to help and support the race, the sponsors and St John's Ambulance.

Crowborough Runners were formed in 1982 after a few enthusiastic runners had watched the inaugural London Marathon the previous year.

This post-Olympic year has been a busy one with the start of 5K park runs for many members, a trip to Brugges for a 10-mile race and the Frankfurt Marathon and Marathon Relay Race.

The club now has adult and junior sections and looks after beginners and improvers all the way through to those wishing to improve their best 10k, half marathon or marathon times.

But it is not all about fast distance running, as the juniors have great fun, as do the adults, who take part in fun runs and short cross-country runs.

The beginners' sessions are on Monday evenings, starting on the track at the Freedom Leisure Centre, while adult sessions take place on Tuesdays at the same place and time.

Social club runs happen on Wednesdays, sometimes with a visit at the end to a local pub for refreshments.

The club also does longer runs or races on Sundays, often on the Ashdown Forest in the summer months.

For more visit www.crowbor oughrunners.org.uk.

CROWBOROUGH Athletic U24 went 1-0 down after ten minutes against constant pressure from the home side.

Crowborough found it hard to cope with playing on a small pitch with Rangers' players not giving them any time on the ball.

But on 30 minutes, stand-in keeper Sam Saunders took a goal kick for King to head on to the running Parks, who shot past the keeper to make it 1-1.

The leveller did not last as, on 32 minutes, Rangers' Dean Chapman ran through the U24s defence to shoot past Saunders for 2-1.

On 42 minutes, from a Rangers corner, Saunders caught the ball with both hands, only for the Rangers striker to collide with him. The ball headed straight at Barton on the goal-line and the referee had no choice but to give him a red card and a penalty for handling.

Rangers went 3-1 up while Crowborough were now down to ten.

Nevertheless, Crowborough took control with attacking football, but were still unable to break down the home side.

On 58 minutes, Rangers broke to make it 4-1.

Seven minutes later, Penfold went past three players, but his low, hard shot was deflected out. Fuller took a corner for it to land on Parks head and he headed home for 4-2.

Saunders then had an open goal at his feet, only for him to shoot over.

On 83 minutes, Crowborough were awarded a penalty, but Fuller hit the crossbar, and Crows knew it was not going to be their day.

The game ended with the Crowborough crashing out of the cup.

Squad: Saunders, Jones, Jess Fuller, Daly, Joe Fuller, Barton, Ennis, Ruse, M Fuller, King, Parks. Subs: Penfold (Joe Fuller 55), Gunn (Jess Fuller 45), Bastin.

FOOTBALL: Rotherfield maintained their recent excellent run of form with a performance full of goals.

After 20 minutes, Elliott Wilkins fired a cross into the box that Tree could only divert into his own net.

Two minutes later, Cuckfield thought they had equalised when Rotherfield were slow to react to a loose ball, but effort was offside.

Five minutes later, Rotherfield doubled their lead when Tom Ford delivered a pass into the run of striker Alex Cole, who volleyed home from 20 yards.

On 66 minutes Rotherfield made the game safe when a throw-in to Cole was passed to Kilby. His left-foot cross was excellent and Wilkins produced a brilliant run before rising high to power a header into the corner.

It was then the home side fought back with a goal from a free-kick.

Newton forcing the clearance home from close range to stir things up.

A little more composure with the final pass would surely have seen Wilkins score again, but three good opportunities were wasted.

As the game entered injury time, Taylor caught the ball and threw it into the run of Wilkins, who slipped a great pass to Mark Pickles and his sublime finish ended in the bottom corner.

BOWLS: Wealden Bowls Club's ladies bowed out of the Yetton Plate when they lost a closely fought encounter by 8 shots against local rivals Eastbourne.

At the home venue, the four led by Janet Birch stormed into a 14-shot lead after just five ends had been played and held on throughout to record a substantial 32-19 win.

The other home rink, skipped by Elizabeth Gooding, were never in the lead, but a four-shot deficit at the end gave the two away teams a reasonable chance to clinch the match.

At the halfway stage, there was every chance of a Wealden victory, but their opponents pulled away to win by eight and nine shots respectively to give them the game by 81-73.

There was disappointment for the ladies in their home Sussex League game against Egerton Park, when they missed out on the five bonus points by just two shots. Good wins came for the teams led by Vera Stevens, Elizabeth Gooding and Jan Noyes, with a last-gasp drawn match for Ann Spree and her four, but one heavy defeat sealed Wealden's fate.

There was some consolation for Wealden when their men had a surprisingly easy victory over Preston in the London and Home Counties Shield.

The home team, skipped by Peter Menniss, were in control of their game from the start and were comfortable 25-17 winners.

On the other home rink, Adrian Wainwright's had to wait before his team went ahead and held on for a three-shot victory.

YOUTH FOOTBALL: Jarvis Brook Juniors U14 won a point on Sunday in a 3-3 draw against high-flying Rusthall U14 in a Crowborough and District League A Division match.

The ball moved from box to box and Brook keeper Chite Mwansa twice saved to deny Rusthall.

Brook broke the deadlock when the Rusthall keeper failed to stop a low cross-shot from Ryan Simmons.

The away team then made it 2-0 when Elliott Charman hit a sweet shot from distance into the corner.

Rusthall found a way back when, despite an excellent save from Mwansa, the home team's striker got to the loose ball first. At the break, Brook led 2-1.

In the second half, Rusthall increased pressure and Simmons was kept busy marking the Rusthall striker before the Brook defence failed to deal with a free-kick and the score was 2-2 with 20 minutes to go.

Both sides then pressed for the winner. Alfie Perry went close for Brook and the home side also made several forays, which were foiled by the Brook offside trap.

Rusthall scored their third after the Brook defence again failed to clear another free-kick: 3-2.

Brook made one last push and Simmons won the ball, cut inside and, after beating two men, hit a fierce shot from 25 yards which closed out the match at 3-3.

CROWBOROUGH town centre was transformed into a winter wonderland on Friday for the Christmas Cracker event, culminating in the grand lights switch-on.

Crowds flocked to the High Street, where a festive market with more than 30 stalls was set up.

Visitors were entertained by jugglers, magicians and Twistina, the balloon lady, and a land train ferried children to and from Santa's grotto in the town hall.

There were also performances by the Crowborough Youth Jazz Orchestra, Herne School Choir and the Crowborough Players.

The lights were turned on by actor Philip Martin Brown, best known for his role as Grantly Budgen in school drama Waterloo Road, who is also appearing in this year's Tunbridge Wells Panto.

"It was an excellent evening," said Crowborough mayor Peter Cowie. "Probably one of the best attended Christmas events we have ever had.

"The stalls ran the length of the High Street selling everything from cakes to cuddly toys and mulled wine. The train and Santa's grotto were extremely popular, there was a continuous queue.

"There were street entertainers, and one man manipulating a glass orb which was very clever and entertaining.

"The orchestra and choir were great – it was lovely to see all their happy smiling faces."

NEW figures reveal the impact the bin collection chaos in Wealden has had on the council and its residents.

Between July and September nearly 71,000 calls were received by Wealden District Council's contact centre – mainly complaints about the new bin collection service from Kier. That is more than double the 34,698 calls in the corresponding months last year.

And more than 30 per cent of phone calls went unanswered over the three months due to the sheer volume.

During the bin chaos the average time customers were on hold while calling the council was three minutes 37 seconds – nearly five times the average in the previous three months, which was 44 seconds, and almost ten times the 22 seconds average at the start of the year.

Kevin McCall, who along with fellow Station Road residents complained numerous times about issues, said the figures showed how big the mess was at the time.

He said: "The first time I tried to get through to the council I had to wait ages and in the end I just gave up.

"I spoke to a neighbour at the time who said he had tried and it had taken a long time for them to answer so the figures don't surprise me. I got a lot more luck when I started e-mailing.

"I think it shows there was no contingency plan in place. It has improved but there are still problems."

The strain on the call centre has decreased and last week an average of 95 per cent of calls each day were answered within 32 seconds.

Kier's collections have also settled, with latest figures from the week beginning November 18 showing less than 1 per cent of bins were missed – compared to 18 per cent in the first week of the new collection rounds.

Council leader Bob Standley said the figures showed the pressure put on staff and praised their response.

He said: "Whilst Keir have accepted that the implementation has been poor it has rightfully fallen to the council to deal with the large amounts of reported missed bins and understandable complaints from residents. Dealing with the issue has occupied staff and members.

"The performance indicators on average phone response times and percentage of calls answered reflect the pressure the contact centre was under despite staff being diverted from other duties to assist.

"Whilst the performance figures for these indicators are below the normal levels, the contact centre staff should be congratulated for the way they dealt with the public in very difficult circumstances.

"With residents often having repeated missed collections and getting frustrated and angry the contact staff dealt with the calls in a very professional and courteous way."

Kier said it had now turned a corner in Wealden District and were hoping to improve even more in the future.

A spokesman said: "Household recycling and waste collections in Wealden are running to schedule with 99 per cent of collections achieved on time and to plan. Across Wealden an average of 4,723 tonnes of waste are now being collected for recycling each month. This is a great achievement and we thank residents for their efforts to help increase the amount of waste that is recycled.

This is good for the environment and is helping the councils in the East Sussex Waste Partnership meet recycling targets."

NEIGHBOURHOOD Watch has for years helped to ensure Crawley is no playground for criminals and that offenders are caught and brought to justice.

But it was the chair of the scheme who was last month invited to spend time at Her Majesty's pleasure – and he described it as "a day to remember".

Ifield resident John Wright, who has been chair of Crawley Neighbourhood Watch Association since 2002, was officially made an MBE and thanked by the Queen at Windsor Castle on November 22.

He received the honour for services to Neighbourhood Watch and the Crawley community.

While he may not have attained a high enough honour to be called "Sir", Mr Wright has become a knight in shining armour for many of the town's residents, helping to curb crime and antisocial behaviour, and inspiring people to take an active role in the community.

The 62-year-old, of Rusper Road, said: "From start to finish it was a day to remember. We arrived and were treated so well by everybody, no matter how high up the staff were.

"They all seemed to want to make it your day. It was unbelievable. I am so humbled."

Mr Wright, who is also chair of Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Federation, only got involved with Crawley's scheme initially because a neighbour had become a burglary victim.

After a crash course in etiquette at the castle, Mr Wright was taken, along with other guests including police officers, nurses and comedian Rob Brydon, to meet Her Majesty.

"You take four or five steps forward then you stand there until your name is called," he explained.

"My name was shouted out on a megaphone and it scared the life out of me. You take three paces forward, then bow and take another three steps forward and you're two feet away from the Queen.

"She bent down and gave me my medal, congratulated me and asked me about Neighbourhood Watch in Crawley, then thanked me for what I had done.

"She then shakes your hand and gives you a slight nudge as if to say 'you're done'."

Mr Wright was characteristically modest about his achievements but when asked if he would make good use of his new title he replied: "Too right I will! Really, though, I don't consider myself any different from the other people who give up their time to make the town better.

"I'm very humble about the whole situation especially as I have so many people who work with me. I do owe a lot to my deputy, Derek Pratt."

MOST children can't wait to spend their pocket money on cakes and toys, but three selfless friends decided they would rather sell such treats to raise money for charity.

Christmas is a time for giving – and kind-hearted classmates Georgia Pinch, Joshua Thayre and Dylan Jones took it upon themselves to organise a bring-and-buy sale in support of Cancer Research UK.

The trio pitched the idea to their head teacher at Ashurst Wood Primary School, Lisa Hobby, who gave her full backing to the fundraiser, which took place on Tuesday.

Cakes, toys and other gifts were sold before school in the morning, with all proceeds – and unsold toys – being donated to the Cancer Research charity shop in East Grinstead.

Joshua said: "It's because of my nan (who suffered from cancer) and I'm doing this to try to help so people can get rid of cancer.

"We have also been selling badges to raise money."

Dylan added: "I'm amazed, it started with me and Josh selling a few toys on the grass, and then Georgia helped and we got the backing of Mrs Hobby. Now we have used the hall, and the whole school has helped out.

"The spare toys that are left over are going to the Cancer Research shop in East Grinstead and the money is going there too.

"I'm really proud that we are doing this."

The trio's parents are just as proud of them.

Mark Pinch, landlord of The Maypole Inn and Georgia's dad, said: "My daughter came home about three weeks ago and told me about their idea.

"It really brought a tear to my eye. To come up with this off their own back is fantastic and I think it should be applauded."

Georgia added: "I'm really proud of all of us and what we are doing."

Other charity fundraisers have been organised at the school over the years, but staff said this is the first time that pupils have set something up themselves.

School spokeswoman Nikki Holley said: "They feel passionate about supporting this charity because it's a cause close to their hearts and we're delighted for them. For the children to do this off their own backs is amazing and everyone at the school is immensely proud of them."

QUESTIONS have been asked as to whether Worth Parish Council was right to pay more than £5,000 to the widow of its former clerk for work apparently done while in hospital.

Much-respected Keith Wall was the council's clerk for almost 30 years before he announced his intention to retire at the end of March.

His health deteriorated and after he died in June son Garry Wall, who is leader of Mid Sussex District Council, wrote to the parish council requesting that his father's estate be paid three months' pay, accrued between March and June.

Having debated the legal and moral issues, the parish council agreed to pay £5,643 to Mr Wall's widow.

But the issue resurfaced after a Freedom of Information request by former parish councillor Eddie Lord.

He said: "It was the way in which the payment was done, in private meetings, that aroused some suspicion.

"Keith was a good man and I got to like him. He ran the council with an iron fist. But there was no legal note saying the payment had to be made. So why did they pay money to Keith Wall's estate?

"I just thought this needs to be made open."

The minutes from an October 2012 meeting show Mr Wall was to step down as clerk on March 31 (the end of the financial year).

However, minutes from a Worth Parish Council private meeting in July indicate Mr Wall never formally resigned, which would suggest he was still entitled to his pay.

E-mails from former parish council chairman Neville Walker to current chairman David Blackman also reveal Cllr Walker took the council's accounts to Mr Wall's hospital bedside for him to cast an eye over and offer instructions on – despite the council employing new clerk Dave Johnson on May 7.

Parish councillor Mike Livesey added: "Keith did not supply a written notice (saying he was retiring) so was still an employee of the council."

MORE than 600 people across Crawley took part in a challenge to stop smoking in October.

A total of 607 smokers took on the 28-day stop-smoking challenge, Stoptober, the highest number in West Sussex.

A quarter of a million people across the country took part in the challenge.

Councillor Nigel Boxall, Crawley Borough Council's cabinet member for community engagement, said: "It was fantastic to see so many people remaining smoke free last month and enjoying all the money savings and health benefits.

"Getting support means you're four times more likely to succeed than if you try and stop by yourself, so don't hesitate to contact the Crawley Wellbeing team or your local 'stop smoking service'."

Research shows that those who stop smoking for 28 days are five times more likely to stay smoke free and that stopping smoking for 28 days can extend someone's life by up to one week.

If all those taking part in the challenge in Crawley successfully quit for the 28 days they would have saved £85,587 between them.

CONTROVERSIAL plans for 74 new homes in the shadow of an East Grinstead landmark look set to be approved.

Plans have been drawn up to build the homes on land south of the Old Convent, off Moat Road, one of only three Grade I listed buildings in East Grinstead.

The Old Convent is currently used for accommodation.

Developer Fairview New Homes wants to build 68 two, three and four-bedroom houses as well as six two-bedroom flats south of the convent site.

East Grinstead Post Referendum Campaign, a pressure group that opposes excessive housing in the town, has previously criticised Mid Sussex District Council for allowing the site to be an option for development in the first place. The council yesterday (Wednesday) debated whether to approve the plans, with papers drawn up by council officers circulated to councillors on its district planning committee recommending that the plans be approved, despite fierce opposition from residents. Households at the Old Convent said they plan to raise a £100,000 "war chest" to fight the application.

For full coverage see next week's Courier & Observer.

HEALTHCARE will need to be provided for up to 15,000 more people in Crawley over the next seven years, according to the town's top doctor.

Dr Amit Bhargava, chief clinical officer for Crawley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which commissions health services in the town, revealed the group has begun planning for an increased demand for healthcare.

Dr Bhargava, who is also a GP at Southgate Surgery, explained that the additional need will be a result of housing developments such as Kilnwood Vale and the North East Sector.

He said: "We expect 8,000 to 9,000 more people from houses being built in Crawley in the next five to six years.

"With Kilnwood Vale (on the town's border but in the district of Horsham), we expect 5,000 more who are likely to use services in Crawley.

"When we do planning for hospital services we are looking at 14,000 to 15,000 patients by 2020."

But Dr Bhargava would not be drawn on whether this would increase the chances of a new hospital being built in the town.

He did say that certain services would be returned to Crawley Hospital, which "isn't being used to its full potential."

Dr Bhargava met Simon Holden, chief executive of NHS Property Services, which owns Crawley Hospital, last Monday (November 25) to look at how unused parts of the site could be better utilised.

Dr Bhargava said: "The purpose of the meeting was to show him the building and work with him to see what opportunities and possibilities there are with Crawley Hospital.

"He was very positive about the opportunities and possibilities for improving services at Crawley Hospital.

"We are very confident we will bring some services back to Crawley."

Dr Bhargava added that the CCG is focused on getting value for money for Crawley taxpayers.

He said: "We have worked very closely with East Surrey Hospital and we have noticed it has improved the quality of care, and that is down to the hard work of East Surrey Hospital and community services including GPs in Crawley."

He added that as a result of work by the CCG and Crawley GPs, fewer people from Crawley are being treated at East Surrey Hospital for acute sickness.

"The number of people from Crawley going into A&E and being admitted for emergencies is fewer," he explained.

The CCG has an annual budget of £142.4 million to spend on planning, buying and monitoring health services for Crawley's residents.

In the 2013/14 financial year it is spending £69 million on hospital services, including ambulances, maternity services and accident and emergency services; £21.5 million on community health services such as nurses and therapists; £18.7 million on medicines; £9.5 million on mental health services; £2 million on services for those with learning difficulties; and £9.5 million on people with continuing healthcare needs and funding for people in nursing homes.

But Dr Bhargava said that historically Crawley has had less investment in certain services than other parts of West Sussex, something which the CCG is addressing.

Dr Bhargava said the CCG is working hard to redress the balance and make services in Crawley more in line with the rest of the county.

But when just such a scene occurred in Northgate the individuals in question were playing the "undead" in a pivotal scene for an upcoming film.

The Black Dog pub, in Barnfield Road, became a movie set last month as the cast and crew of Meet The Cadavers took over the stage and social club area for a day and night.

The independent film is written and co-directed by "Zion", who also co-produces and co-stars with Vikki Spit – his real-life partner. The couple are also members of the band Spit Like This.

The film follows a family of zombies, in the style of The Addams Family and The Munsters, and is a comedy horror.

Zion, who grew up in Furnace Green and now lives in Burstow, said: "Zombie films seem to be really popular at the moment but we haven't seen a movie like The Addams Family with humour similar to The Inbetweeners before.

"I wanted to turn the film concept on its head by making the zombies a friendly family whose image has been ruined by Hollywood giving zombies a bad name.

"They simply want to be a part of society."

The film follows the zombie family on a camping holiday and has mainly been shot at Blacklands Farm Campsite, in the village of Henfield.

Zion, 41, who performs as Lord Zion as lead singer of his rock band, explained that the scene shot in The Black Dog is the key moment when the film turns from a comedy into a horror.

"We were looking for a venue to shoot the Hallowe'en Fancy Dress Party scene and The Black Dog had the space we needed," he said.

"It worked perfectly as a venue.

"A lot of the crew and cast are from here so it has turned into a community project."

Sean Connar, landlord at The Black Dog, hopes the film give the neighbourhood a boost.

He said: "We have only been in charge of the pub for two months but we know Northgate's reputation has gone downhill in recent years.

"Hopefully being involved in a project like this can help to turn that reputation around."

The low-budget labour of love includes a celebrity cameo from Big Brother winner Pete Bennett.

The film is set for release in 2014 and Zion hopes to have it shown at the famous Cannes Film Festival.

THE company managing Manor Royal has announced it is in favour of a second runway at Gatwick Airport but asked for further clarification into how the business district would be impacted by expansion.

The Manor Royal Business Group (MRBG) has declared its position as being supportive of proposals for expansion due to the "economic benefits it will bring".

It wants Gatwick to be put forward for further consideration as an option for providing extra aviation capacity.

Steve Sawyer, executive director of Manor Royal Business District, said: "The growth of Manor Royal has gone hand in hand with that of Gatwick Airport since the 1950s. It is the opinion of MRBG that the case for an expanded Gatwick Airport ... represents a genuine, deliverable option for increasing airport capacity to meet the forecasted demand for air travel and robust global connectivity."

However, the company has refrained from giving total support to a second runway until some issues are resolved.

These include the full extent of the revised airport boundary and the impacts this could have on Manor Royal; how the transport infrastructure would be improved; and what the impact would be on major access roads.

"Indicative plans show an impact on the north eastern corner of Manor Royal, some buildings on the northern boundary and parts of County Oak," Mr Sawyer said.

"What are the plans for supporting those businesses that would be displaced? One of Manor Royal's selling points is good transport connections although there are still challenges faced by so many people already making the daily commute to the area.

"It is important these challenges can be met and the current situation not made worse.

"Indicative plans show major access routes to Manor Royal and Crawley as being affected, particularly London Road but also Gatwick Road.

"How will this be handled to ensure Manor Royal is not cut off or only served by roads to the south?"

TEN thousand fewer visitors are expected to have walked the grounds of Standen House this year – because tourists preferred to be by the seaside in the warm weather, and the gardens were not looking their best.

Staff at the National Trust attraction believe a drop in summertime visitors will mean about 82,000 people will end up having visited the Victorian house this year, far less than the 90,000 it was budgeting for.

Standen's property manager Nicky Ingram said a combination of factors could have played a part in the reversal of fortune, including the 'un-British' summer this year that saw temperatures soar as high as 35 degrees across West Sussex.

Miss Ingram denied potential visitors were shunning the attraction, saying: "It is always disappointing when viewing figures are not as good as we hoped but I wouldn't say people are shunning Standen.

"Figures are not as good as we had hoped for even though we have been open for seven days a week since February.

"It is always difficult to second guess what people will do but I think perhaps the prolonged and warm summer meant people made the most of the weather and went to beach. When there is nice weather you usually take the chance to make the most of it and it's not always often you can go to the coast."

The low attendance figures will be discussed tonight (Thursday) by East Grinstead Town Council at its amenities and tourism meeting. A report prepared by town promotions manager Simon Kerr says the decline is "somewhat of a mystery" since neighbouring National Trust properties have all seen increased visitors numbers this year.

He will also point to the fact that new signs to the property have been installed in the town along with a big new sign at the attraction's entrance.

Miss Ingram added that the grounds, which are tended to by some of the 400 volunteers Standen has recruited, might not have been looking their best this summer due to an ongoing £500,000 restoration project to bring them back to their former glory, in keeping with the vision of their creator, Margaret Beale.

"We are one year into a five-year project and there has been a lot of initial work happening," she said. "But we are increasing the size of the kitchen garden, have the continuing restoration project, and will be opening 363 days next year, the most we have ever been open."

Tours of Standen House's Garden of Lights are taking place every Friday, Saturday, Sunday until December 22, from 4.30pm until 6.30pm.

CRAWLEY parents who want to work but cannot afford "stratospheric" childcare costs would be given a helping hand under a Labour government.

This was the message from Gloria De Piero, shadow minister for women and equalities, who joined Ed Miliband on his visit to Crawley on Monday.

The MP said working parents of three and four-year-olds would get 25 hours of free childcare a week.

She said: "It's so important, childcare for working parents, and that's why we're campaigning.

"I wish the government would do it now, but if there's a Labour government we absolutely will guarantee (25 hours free childcare) for working parents ... you hear so many times mums saying 'it's not worth me going back to work'.

"Twenty five hours free childcare is going to make a really big difference to working parents. If women want to go to work, and many women do, you can't have the cost of childcare preventing them, because at the moment it's stratospheric."

The childcare would be funded by a levy on banks, she added.

PARENTS were urged to keep an eye out for ducks, deer and horses as they dropped their youngsters off at Forest Row Community Pre-School.

But the warnings did not form part of the Highway Code – they were road signs specially created for a "Beep Beep" road safety awareness day.

The signs, which included speed and height restrictions, were presented to the toddlers recently by Nordis Signs – a division of Kier MG Ltd – to help with the children's education.

Nordis general manager Steve Wright attended the pre-school to see the signs put to use.

"The pre-school contacted us to see if we had any old signs they could use to enhance their lessons," he said.

"They explained that the numbers and images are familiar to the children and are great aids to numeracy and literacy.

"It was a fantastic idea and we immediately knew we could do something to help.

"Between us we came up with the idea of making signs especially for the children.

"Most of the inspiration came from them and there were some firm favourites.

"The climbing frame definitely needed its height limit sign and the warning signs for ducks, deer and horses have been very popular.

"It was a pleasure to create something that the children will use for years to come."

Pre-school manger Kate Chambers said she was delighted with the donation.

She said: "Parents were asked to take photos of their children in the community learning about road safety.

"Awareness of road signs and their associated images is a big part of that.

"Wealden District Council was approached with a view to recycling its old road signs and the council put us in touch with Steve.

"We couldn't be happier with the result. The children now have an excellent resource that enhances their learning fun at pre-school and out and about.

"We can't thank Steve and Nordis Signs enough for their generosity."