JUBILANT residents, children, staff and governors have been celebrating the rebirth of a village nursery.

Horndon Village Playgroup in Vincent Avenue, Horndon-on-the-Hill was threatened with closure but has now been saved after Horndon-on-the-Hill Church of England Primary School, Hillcrest Road, Horndon-on-the-Hill, stepped in.

Thurrock Council upped the cost of the nursery’s lease and the previous owners decided to retire, but it has reopened in refurbished premises.

The nursery in Vincent Avenue backs onto the school’s field and it has now become part of the school.

The lease went from about £7000 to £45000 under an asset management review.

Headteacher Travis Martinson said: “We have been able to renegotiate this but we are in a position where we don't need to turn a profit, but break even. A tendering process went to public consultation and we won this process with our business plan.

“We have been given six months so that no school money is spent on the mursery, as it turns a profit, we will reinvest into the provision.”

The headteacher said he hopes the nursery will cater for 36 children.

Mr Martinson also said he is very proud to have retained the staff from the previous nursery and that staff had worked long hours to get it up and running.

The school now planned to extend the hours at the nursery and also offer "wrap round" care giving village children continuity of care and education in the village.

Mr Martinson added: “I would like to thank my staff and governors who have worked extremely hard to pull of the deal to save the playschool and I am confident that its integration with Horndon CoE will prove popular and successful.”