Despite 40 years of success and being situated on the main road into Warwick town centre, Coton End Playgroup remains something of a hidden gem.

The community centre's subsidised fees attract scores of parents who send their children there rather than find places at more costly nurseries.

And further subsidies have been established this term following government funding, which has enabled many parents to send their children to the playgroup throughout the week instead of the previous trend for two or three days supervision.

Administrator Janet Elliott said: "Having children here all week not only makes our lives easier but gives the children more continuity on projects. They can keep going ahead with a Humpty Dumpty project, for example, rather than having to backtrack.

"There is a huge demand for places at the minute and it's the fullest we've ever been. And yet I still see people who don't even know we are here. Perhaps it's because we've never had a big sign outside."

Its long establishment has enabled the playgroup to acquire a roomful of equipment from former playgroup children who have donated toys they have grown out of.

The group also seeks funding for equipment and among its latest additions is a music corner where children can put on headphones if they want a few quiet moments to themselves.

Mrs Elliott, now in her 36th year at the centre, added: "There are so many things for them to do when they first arrive that they soon settle. We've only been back a week or so and the children already feel really comfortable - they come quite happily when you call them to do something."

The one disadvantage the playgroup has against nurseries, Mrs Elliott says, is that all this equipment has to be taken out and packed away at the beginning and end of each day because other groups use the centre.

She added: "This is the only way that nurseries have got an edge over us. As well as being qualified, all our staff are mums themselves which makes a big difference. Most mums will say their attitude towards children was completely different before they had their own. That's not to say non-parents are uncaring but you learn things such as how to differentiate between a cry of pain and a cry for attention."