A POPULAR adventure play centre for youngsters in Whitefield is to close on Tuesday - despite a 200-name petition from customers.

And this week the bosses of Alphabet Zoo made an appeal to local people to help them find alternative premises in the area. They have decided to close after five years because of uncertainty surrounding the play centre building, the former Mayfair cinema in Bury Old Road. The company claims their landlords have failed to respond to questions raised about the building's future.

Last month, Salford businessman Chris Rustage was given the go-ahead by Bury Council for a change of use to a furniture shop. Alphabet Zoo will quit the premises on Tuesday.

Alphabet Zoo, which operates six indoor children's adventure centres throughout Greater Manchester, said it wanted to remain in the Prestwich/Whitefield area and appealed for information about possible alternative premises.

The firm's Trafford Park-based operations director, Miss Wendy Wild, said this week: "We've made the closure decision although we received a 200-name petition from customers asking us to keep it open. But that's not down to us. The fact is we can't get any comment from our landlords on what is to happen to the building.

"During the last few weeks, we've been trying to find somewhere else. But we need people's help in identifying suitable premises elsewhere in the town."

Alphabet Zoo catered for around 2,000 children each week at its Whitefield base. The 16 part-time and full-time staff are being offered alternative employment at other centres.

The landlords, Manchester-based Legendary Property Company, declined to comment.

Meanwhile, anyone who can offer Alphabet Zoo alternative premises in Whitefield can contact Miss Wild on 888 2277.

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