A WARMINSTER pre-school has been given a fresh start after its building was condemned in September.

The Elm Hill pre-school is for children who have a parent in the Army based in Warminster.

The school's former home had to be closed down with half an hour's notice after health and safety inspectors decided the roof on the 1940s hut was not safe.

Children were sharing the Firbank Community Centre with another group of infants, but parents were upset with the temporary accommodation.

Ofsted and health and safety inspectors have now approved a new permanent building for the pre-school in the same road.

Tommy Sprangle, the Army's community development worker, said: "The school is now in the old officers' quarters which has more rooms and a garden.

"The Army don't have to supply a pre-school, but we do so out of the kindness of our hearts. A happy soldier is a good soldier; if his family is happy then he will be happy to get on with his work."

As well as a new building the children have a new supervisor. Debbie Main was pleased with the Army Welfare Service's quick reaction to the crisis.

She said: "It's a wonderful building. I have no emotional attachments with the last building, so I think it's a lot better.

"We now have lots of different rooms, which can be used for different themes."

Although the children are in new surroundings, Mrs Main said they have lots of familiar things around them.

"During half term, we worked hard to get the building ready and all the children and parents are very happy," she explained.