The Salvation Army is to close the Strawberry Field children’s home in Liverpool – inspiration for one of The Beatles’ classic songs.

The site – which first opened in 1936 – is situated close to Lennon’s Aunt Mimi’s house in Woolton. It has attracted thousands of visitors over the years.

A young Lennon would often go to the home to play with the children and it later inspired The Beatles’ Strawberry Fields Forever – the ‘Fields’ was pluralised as Lennon and McCartney thought it would be catchier.

After Lennon’s death, a space was created in Central Park called Strawberry Fields while the musician also left money to the Liverpool home in his will. In 1984, Yoko Ono donated a further £50,000 in an effort to keep the home open.

Three children remain at the home, who will be fostered out by the time the home closes in two years. No decision has yet been made on the building’s future.

Major Marion Drew of The Salvation Army said: “Strawberry Field has served children and young people well over the years but care for young people has moved on significantly and we are responding to that change.”