A former Douglas head teacher is coming out of retirement to ensure there's a nursery at his former school from September.

John Rhodes offered to step-in at Ballacottier after hearing lack of take-up for places meant the south Douglas primary could lose its pre school altogether.

Manx charity Mooinjer Veggey won the lease at Ballacottier but said not enough parents had registered children to pay staff salaries.

Now Mr Rhodes, along with his wife Cathy and daughter Rebecca who both lost their jobs as pre school teachers last week, want to operate the Ballacottier nursery themselves as Cooil Pre School.

They say they won't take a salary until pupil numbers grow.

Mooinjer Veggey will retain the lease and the project will run on similar lines to the charity's other nurseries.

John Rhodes says the response so far has been very encouraging:

More info: cooilpreschool.im