Fire destroys Woking children's nursery

AN INVESTIGATION is continuing to determine if a fire which destroyed a children's nursery in Woking at the weekend was started deliberately.

The fire ripped thorough the roof and first floor of Goldwater Lodge, home to Toad Hall Nursery in Goldsworth Park.

Police said the blaze which happened in the early hours of Sunday (December 2) is being treated as suspicious.

Surrey Fire and Rescue said security guards responding to an intruder alarm arrived shortly before 4am to see the building ablaze.

Firefighters from Woking were dispatched to find flames had torn through the roof section. 

The whitewatch crew were joined by firefighters from Chertsey, Chobham and Camberley.

The fire destroyed the first floor and roof of the main building as well of the roof of a second neighbouring building.

A trained sniffer dog was later deployed to find traces of accelerants that could have been used to start the blaze.

Lys Price, who sends her two daughters to the nursery, said: "My husband and I woke on Sunday morning, opened the curtains and saw the fire engines outside.

"Then we realised there was no roof on the nursery.

"It was gutting when we saw it."

She added: "This was a purpose-built nursery and they have got so much equipment. It's very well established and kitted out.

"It's a disruption to the kids and we don't know yet what it's going to be replaced with."

Surrey Police is appealing for witnesses and anyone with any information is asked to contact Surrey Police on 101, quoting incident reference P12352573.