A?POPULAR adventure centre for schoolchildren is to close, it was confirmed this week.

The Delaware Adventure Zone for Learning (DAZL), a valuable educational centre at Drakewalls, will close for business officially on April 8 after the Government withdrew vital funding.

The centre's purpose is to help inspire under achieving schoolchildren towards fulfilling their potential by linking outdoor activities to the curriculum.

DAZL has proven to be a great success, benefiting more than 200 children a year from both local primary schools and Callington Community College.

However, with the Government retracting £80,000 a year, and Cornwall Council withdrawing an additional £25,000 annual funding, the centre has been forced to close. The closure also threatens the four staff jobs — two full-time, two part-time.

Manager Pat Brunskill said: 'It's such a great shame to lose the centre, which has helped so many children over the last six years.'

But there is still a possibility that DAZL will continue in some form, albeit in a scaled down capacity. Mrs Brunskill is hopeful that it may be possible for sufficient funds to be raised partly to pay for similar freelance schemes, with schools and sponsors providing revenue for the initiative. Potential sponsors and backers who could help to save the resource can contact her on 01822 834814.