Councillors and businesses rally around to support fire hit Sutton play group

Chad reported how staff, parents and children had been left ‘devastated’ after a blaze swept through the Ashfield Play Care Scheme building on the Lammas compound on 12th December.

Staff at the after school club, which caters for children aged four to 12-years-old, asked for donations of unwanted toys and games so it could keep running - and they have been overwhelmed by the response.

“People have been so kind,” said Shirley Wiffen, who is chairman of the scheme. “We have had lots of cuddly toys and board games.”

Donations have also come from the town’s Wilkinson and Asda stores.

In addition, Nottinghamshire councillors Michelle Gent and Fiona Asbury, who both represent Huthwaite, also made a donation, while all the councillors at Ashfield District Council have each given £150.

Shirley added: “I’d like to thank all the people who have donated. People have been so kind. We’d also like to thank the Chad for the coverage, because people have come to us and said they didn’t know we were there.”

The play scheme, which caters for more than 200 families in the area, is now based at the St John Ambulance hut, also on the Lammas site.

Shirley says: “We only missed one day and then we moved into the scout hut. We are now in the St John hut and they have said we can use it until we get in our new building.”

It is believed the fire was caused by an electric heater. Luckily, no-one was inside at the time.