A THRIVING pre school group that was forced out of its base by vandals has found a new home.

The Early Learners Pre School had to leave Orford Park Community Centre after repeated acts of vandalism made it unsafe for the children.

But the group had hoped to return to the popular venue once things had calmed down.

However, their hopes were dashed when, in May this year, the whole centre was razed to the ground by arsonists, destroying the premises and causing extensive damage to the pre school room.

The group eventually found a temporary home at Radley Common Community Centre but the problems at the old venue had seen numbers dwindle from 36 to just 19.

Now the group has found permanent premises at the Greenwood Community Centre, off Meteor Crescent, Orford, and Alison Crawford, who runs the groups, says the move is just the start of a bright new future.

She said: "We are hoping that some of the children who left us because of the problems will come back to us now that we have new, safe premises.

"In a lot of ways it's better than what we left behind - it's much bigger and more airy.

"It took us some time to get here but we just kept plodding on and it's been worth it in the end."

As well as causing substantial damage to the structure of the old building, the fire also destroyed vital play and toy resources as well as computer equipment, puppets, games and musical instruments.

Thanks to a donation from Asda Cockhedge last week, the group was able to buy £50 worth of music instruments to replace those lost in the blaze but help is still needed to replace creative resources and eye co-ordination toys.

The Early Learners Pre School meets on Mondays, from 9am to 11.30am, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 9am until 11.30am, and again from 12.15pm until 2.45pm, and on Thursdays from 12.30pm until 3pm (term time only).

Admission is £4.75 per session for children aged from two-and-a-half up to four-and-a-half.

To donate resources, or for more information, call Alison on 07840071387.