A RELIEVED nursery owner has thanked the community for supporting her and her pupils following a devastating break-in last year.

Last September, criminals in Barmouth smashed their way in through the Oasis Day Nursery’s back door and then proceeded to ransack the property, stealing thousands of pounds in cash and equipment.

Amongst the items stolen was a charity box for cancer care charity Macmillan.

Initially distraught by the criminal act, nursery owner Rev Dawn Robinson’s mood changed drastically in the days following the burglary as donations from kind-hearted residents raised well over £1,000 for the nursery in a spontaneous act of charity.

Now, several months on from the unfortunate incident, Oasis Nursery has been able to put that money to good use as it is currently building an outdoor play area for the children, a long-held ambition for Rev Robinson.

“It’s just brilliant,” she said.

“After such a horrible shock last September, we’re delighted something positive has come of the whole affair.

“Everyone has been fantastic and we couldn’t be more grateful. From those who donated cash, to those who supplied cheap building materials and especially the students from Coleg Meirion Dwyfor who have done such excellent work.

“They’re so much more professional than we are, we laid the foundations before the students came in and that was a laugh a minute I can tell you!”

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