The news has been welcomed by working parents whose children use the club, which is held at the Sure Start Children's Centre in Avenue Road, Hunstanton.

Mother-of-twins Sue Brown contacted the Lynn News last week when it was feared that the club, operated by Hunstanton Infant School, would have to close at the end of May.

The threat to its future arose when Government funding for its first three years came to an end and session fees could not cover the running costs.

The turnaround came on Wednesday when Norfolk County Council announced the club would in future be integrated with full daycare facilities for two to four-year-olds at the children's centre.

Children's services media officer Kate Gooding said: "There have been sustainability issues with the after-school club. The club's three-year set-up funding recently came to an end and, due to insufficient numbers making regular use of the club, there had been concerns about its future."

She explained that children's centres were funded to provide facilities for under-fives and caring for school-aged children was not a requirement.

However, after working closely with the infant school, it had been possible to secure the after-school club's position. "We are delighted to say that we have come up with a solution that means after-school provision can continue and children using the club will be cared for alongside two to four-year-olds at the centre," she said.

Where after-school clubs were having difficulties, the county council would work with them where possible to secure their future sustainability, she added.

Mrs Brown, of Bernard Crescent, Hunstanton, said the threat to the future of the club had caused shock and worry for the working parents affected.

"It's fantastic news that a way has been found of sorting it out and, in the long term, it's good for Hunstanton as well," she said.

Mrs Brown praised the facilities at the new children's centre, which opened in February. She also hoped the reprieve would lead to an increase in the number of children using the after-school club. "It takes a while for things like this to really get going," she said.