TEACHERS and toddlers are enjoying using their new pre-school after a £150,000 revamp narrowly escaped Government cuts.

Wantage Ed Vaizey joined parents and pupils to officially open the new building in Steventon, near Abingdon, last month.

Parents say their children are delighted with the new building in St Michael’s Way, in the grounds of St Michael’s Primary School.

Mum-of-two Sarah Whittle, 39, whose children Suzannah, three, and Harry, two, use the pre-school, said: “Compared with the old building, the new one is beautiful and the children love using it.

“It’s much bigger, lighter and very friendly and inviting. Parents from other villages are now coming to get their children signed up.”

Suzanne Benton-Bryan, chairman of the pre-school committee, said: “My daughter Daisy, who is three, loves it so much she asks to go at the weekend.”

Parents celebrated in April when it was confirmed they had secured a Sure Start capital grant of £93,000 from the Government towards the £150,000 project.

Alice Rickard, former chairman of the committee, said she was pleased the project went ahead when other similar projects were axed due to Government cuts.

She said: “The old building lasted for more than 20 years and before that the pre-school met in the village hall.

“When many other local school building projects were unexpectedly put on hold due to financial cutbacks, parents feared the worst.

“Just days before the old building was due to be demolished, it became apparent that the funding was still in jeopardy.

“But 24 hours of frenzied activity and dogged determination followed to ensure legal documents were signed and sealed just in the nick of time.

“We sympathise with other pre-schools whose projects were not able to go ahead.”

Demolition of the old building an construction of its replacement took place during the summer.

The cedar-clad structure has two classrooms, a kitchen and an outdoor classroom.

abingdon@oxfordmail.co.uk