Chief Minister to receive nursery petition

Protesters will gather outside Tynwald ahead of this month's sitting following the decision to close all Government run nurseries and pre-schools on the Island.

Ahead of the budget, it was confirmed that the Department of Education and Children's preschool program will end this summer to save funds.

A number of other cuts are planned, including closing Bride Infants' School, shutting the Family Library on Westmoreland Road and introducing charges for musical instrument tuition.

Campaigners will hand over petitions with thousands of signatures to Chief Minister Allan Bell before the February sitting gets underway at ten thirty.

The protest is expected to continue throughout the day as the budget is delivered.