Edward Leigh, Member of Parliament for Gainsborough, has attended the opening of the Little Lambs Nursery, in Corringham Road, Gainsborough. The nursery was forced to close following a fire which gutted the building at the start of December last year, in what is understood to have been an arson attempt. The blaze damaged light fittings and fixtures as it spread through the toddler room to the corridors, kitchen and children’s toilets. Thousands of pounds of repairs have taken place and now the nursery is back in business.

Edward joined parents, children and staff to celebrate the re-opening of the nursery. Owners John and Joyce Ramm, who have devoted eiighteen years of their life to the business, were left devastated at the destruction, while the forty-four under-5s who attended the nursery had to be cared for at alternative premises.

Mr. Ramm paid tribute to everyone who had helped in the efforts to restore the Little Lambs nursery, including father and son merchants Dave and Chris Walters, from Epworth, who completed much of the necessary building work. He said:

“Dave and Chris worked night and day for several weeks to renovate the place. They have been excellent from the start with a superb quality of workmanship – they even put up with my wife saying ‘have you done that?’ and ‘will you do this?’

“The biggest feeling I have at the moment is relief. It’s all come together in the end. The support has been absolutely fantastic and the parents have really rallied around us.

“The nursery looks fantastic and the staff, children and parents are all very positive and enthusiastic.”

Edward Leigh said:

“This kind of mindless vandalism is horrible and it’s horrible when it happens to a public facility like Little Lambs. But it’s wonderful that everyone has gathered around and I think now Little Lambs shall be open for another twenty years.”