A group of dedicated dads are fighting to keep their toddler group open after funding was cut.

The group, called Dad's Time was created to encourage fathers to spend quality time with their children.

It is now facing closure after six years following savage cuts in charitable funding.

To save the group, which meets in Croydon at the weekends, committed dads are planning a 23-mile, 14-hour sponsored walk around all Croydon libraries on July 23 at 7am.

Jill Shea, assistant manager at the Croydon branch of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, which was forced to pull its funding after a grant from Croydon Council was reduced, said "Dad's Time is a group that highlights the importance of the male figure in children's lives."

One member decided to join the group when he noticed very few dads at the other playgroup he attended with his children six years ago.

Scott Greenbrook, 39, takes his three young children each week.

He said: "There's a real sense of community as we share experiences together. It's great for the kids, the dads and the mums who get a break for a morning.

"My older kids now come and help the younger ones and it's great preparation for nursery. It's such a welcoming atmosphere and we are open to everybody.

"We're really desperate to keep this going and are doing all we can. It would be so sad to see this group go.

"It has a growing membership of 50 families yet will cease to exist in November unless about £4,000 can be raised.

"The dads are so passionate about encouraging parents to read to their kids they have written their own book, Dad's Time Tales, which they will be present to each library they visit on the walk."

The group recently read a section of their book to 200 children at an event run by the Croydon Dyslexia Association.