THE Strawberry Field children's home made famous by the Beatles song of the same name is to close, the Daily Post can reveal.
The Salvation Army home, in Woolton, was where a young John Lennon used to play as a child and became immortalised in the song Strawberry Fields Forever which was released in 1967.
However, it will be announced today that the children's home, on Beaconsfield Road, will shut its doors in March.
News of its closure is expected to upset thousands of Beatles fans who make the pilgrimage to the Woolton area to take photographs and scrawl messages on the perimeter walls there.
Last night, assistant manager of the home Peter Burns said: "We were told officially at a staff meeting yesterday that the home would be closing in March.
"Obviously everybody here is very downhearted about it all. It is very sad it should have to close - especially with its famous connection.
"It is particularly upsetting for the staff. They have already been saying 'so much for Strawberry Fields Forever'."
Lennon spent much of his youth playing at Strawberry Field which was close to his Aunt Mimi's Menlove Avenue home.
He lived with his aunt as a child after his father walked out on him and his mother decided she could no longer provide the care he needed.
Despite his aunt's objections, Lennon would often go to garden parties there with his friends, Ivan, Nigel and Pete.
And, since then, the home has become closely associated with the Beatle and was said to hold a special place close to John Lennon's heart.
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