A much-loved Suffolk village pre-school which has been running for more than three decades will close down later this year. 

The bosses of Ladybirds Pre-School in Leavenheath, near Sudbury, have made the "very difficult" decision and announced it will close down later this year. 

A statement on the school's social media reads: "It is with an extremely heavy heart that we announce that the management team at Ladybirds have made the very difficult decision that the pre-school will close at the end of term, and our final day will be July 19, 2024.

"We like to thank everyone who has been involved with Ladybirds over the past 30 plus years and all the happy children who have been through our doors."

It comes after an east Suffolk nursery announced it would close down after two years of operarting. 

The decision to close The Old Hospital Nursery in Southwold was announced earlier this month due to the national crisis in early years staffing which has made it "impossible" to recruit sufficient staff, bosses said.