PARENTS and staff are celebrating after councillors defied officers' recommendations and voted to allow a nursery to return home.

Downhall Under Fives feared for its future if a plan to rebuild its base in Ferndale Road, Rayleigh, had been blocked and it was forced to stay in temporary accomodation in Hullbridge.

Officers for Rochford District Council, which owns the land, had recommended the application be turned down because the development was on green belt and there was not enough off-street parking provided.

But during an emotional meeting, which was packed out with more than 70 concerned parents, councillors voted 16 to two in favour.

Hayley Bloomfield, of Downhall's building committee, gave an impassioned speech in support of the application and cried with joy when the application was passed.

She said: "It has been 16 months of battling with the council and trying to keep a roof over our heads.

"It was a fantastic result for the children and the community and a really emotional evening."

The original scout hut where the group had been meeting for 19 years was demolished two years ago and, since then, the group has been based in a church hall in Hullbridge.

But the group said the hall was not suitable for its needs and too far from where most parents came from in Rayleigh.

Now nursery staff are appealing for help in raising funds to build the new nursery, a single-storey portable building with a play area around it, which they estimate will cost about £120,000.

Downhall nursery is a non profit-making registered charity and cares for children aged between two-and-a-half and five, four days week.

Anyone who wants to help can call 07773 952455.