Mothers left stranded as nurseries close

The parents of more than 250 children have been left struggling after two London nurseries shut without warning.

The Happy Times nursery group closed on Friday after giving staff just one hour's notice.

At least 70 staff have lost their jobs and parents are scrambling to organise care for 287 children in the run-up to Christmas. Families were told of the closure when they arrived to collect their sons and daughters from the Fulham and Battersea branches on Friday.

Parents are worried about the return of thousands of pounds of fees. One staff member said they had heard rumours the business was suffering but had no idea it was about to close. The woman, who did not want to be named, said: "At 5pm we received a call from the directors telling us they were shutting and we no longer had a job. It was left up to us to tell parents when they arrived to collect their kids at 6pm.

"We were devastated because we are now without work just a month before Christmas. I feel terribly sorry for parents."

Laura Robinson, a 29-year-old pensions co-ordinator, said the closure was a "huge emotional blow" to the children and parents. She has managed to find a place for her two-year-old daughter, Lottie, at another nursery from January but will be relying on family help until then.

She said: "I find it incredible that we were not even told by the nursery directors, I got a call from a carer on Friday and she was so upset. Everyone was in tears."

The nursery group charges up to £1,270.42 a month per child. It has been loss-making since at least 2005 with a debt of almost £7,600,000 in 2006. In March last year the firm took out a £900,000 loan, citing "availability of funds" as a key risk to trading. A branch in Hammersmith closed two years ago and the Richmond nursery was sold in May. Angus and Fiona Fairbairn's 10-month-old son Thomas went to the Battersea branch two days a week. Journalist Mrs Fairbairn, 36, said: "There are 100 children in Battersea without care now."

A letter signed by non-executive director Russell Thornhill has been sent to staff and parents about the closure. The key shareholders are Quester VCT and Acuity. A Quester VCT spokesman said: "We are working with the management team to see if we can assist." Directors Mr Thornhill and Elizabeth Cullen did not return calls.