Thousands raised within hours to rebuild 'dream nursery' destroyed by blaze

Just hours after a devastating fire ripped through a childcare setting in Edinburgh, thousands of pounds has been raised by a parent to help rebuild the "dream nursery". Firefighters tackle the blaze at Lanark Road Nursery. Credit: Scottish Fire and Rescue

Up to 30 firefighters battled to put out a fire that started just after 7am on 5 May in the roof of Lanark Road Nursery in Edinburgh.

The blaze prompted parents coming to drop off children to be turned away by police who had shut the road to traffic.

The nursery has confirmed that no one was hurt in the fire but the damage to the three-floor building which caused the roof to collapse, led parent Stacey Bridges to start a Go Fund Me page. It has raised £6,420 to date (6 May) to help rebuild the nursery.

Stacey Bridges, whose daughter went to the family run nursery for four years, wrote on the fundraising page: “On Wednesday 5th May, Lanark Road Nursery in Edinburgh suffered a devastating fire.

"The nursery is an independent, family-run organisation that has provided incredible early years care for 0-5 year olds in the local area.

Lanark Road Nursery in Edinburgh before the fire. Credit: Lanark Road Nursery.

'The team worked tirelessly over the past year to stay open'

“The owners and nursery team have always gone above and beyond for the children in their care, from delicious home cooked meals, to amazing outdoor play, crafts and day trips - it’s a dream nursery and a place I fell in love with the second I stepped in the door.

"The team have worked tirelessly over the past year to stay open during both lockdowns to ensure key workers in the city could work.

"My daughter has enjoyed four incredible years at the nursery and I want to raise money to support the nursery owners and staff during this time of uncertainty.

"All funds will be donated to the nursery in the hope that this helps them to rebuild and reopen as smoothly as possible.”

Messages of support and money for the nursery has flooded into the fundraising page.

Parent Jennifer Cargill said: “The nursery is a home from home for my daughter. Every single member of staff goes the extra mile for the children, and I hope to see them all together again soon.”

Parent Keith Symington said: “After all of these years using the nursery, we are devastated to hear about the fire. We hope the fund goes some way towards rebuilding the nursery.”

Fire fighters at the nursery remained on site for nine hours. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 07:19 on Wednesday to reports of a building fire on Lanark Road, Edinburgh.

"Operations control mobilised six appliances and a height vehicle to the scene to extinguish a well-developed fire affecting the roof space of a three-storey building.

"There are no reported casualties at this time."

The nursery emailed parents confirming that no one had been hurt in the fire and that the staff and the children were all safe. To help rebuild the nursery you can donate here.