A PHOENIX has risen from the ashes at Barons Cross, Leominster, following the sudden closure of a supermarket creche.

Daisy Chain Pre-School Nursery has been set up at the Barons Cross community centre by two women who lost their child-care jobs when Safeway closed its creche and playgroup.

Qualified nursery nurses Margo John and Karen Day have gained the support of the Government-backed Sure Start organisation.

They have been awarded a discretionary grant from Herefordshire Council to set up their project on an estate, which has long been dogged by a lack of facilities for young families.

Margo, former manager of the creche and playgroup at Safeway, said parents and children were left high and dry and staff were made redundant on the sudden closure last November.

The two women, and two other helpers, are running nursery sessions three mornings a week and hope to expand their hours of operation as the Daisy chain grows.

"The community centre is ideal and we have a little fenced-in playground outside," said Margo of Mortimer Street, Leominster.