A COUPLE, who have launched a chain of nurseries in the town, have been praised for helping government minister Sam Gyimah on his ‘moral mission’ to give the best possible childcare to parents.

Rob and Sue Jones, who run Evolution Childcare, were two of Childcare Minister Sam Gyimah’s guests of honour at a Department for Education reception in Lancaster House on Monday.

The couple set up their chain of nurseries in 1998 when former Liverpool and England footballer Rob’s career was cut short by a knee injury.

Since then they have expanded to having a range of sites in England as well as abroad in Dubai.

The minister, who first met the couple in December 2014 when he visited one of their nurseries, said: "The importance of childcare is huge in a child’s development and upbringing – that’s why we all have a moral mission to get it right."

Sue added: “The two, three and four-year-old funding has been fantastic for parents, and the benefits for the children of receiving childcare are huge. They have better social interaction and are more emotionally developed."