THE foyer of Oxford Playhouse looked more like a secondhand pram store than the entrance to a leading theatre.

Pushchairs stood two and three deep in various sizes and colours.

It was Monday morning and the weekly meeting of Hey Diddle Diddle, an hour-long meeting of mums and their pre-school children.

Mother-of-two Emily Marshall, a freelance singing leader, has been running the event for more than eight years.

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She had songs, toys and children’s musical instruments at the ready.

Meanwhile the mothers – plus one dad and two grandparents _ were having a pre-session cuppa in the bar catching up on the past week.

Ms Marshall, of Little Hay Road, Cowley, said: “Singing connects you to others.

“The important thing is that the children are part of the songs and the actions. It is not just running around and making a noise.”

Beatrice Pritzker, from Italy, and her 17-months-old son Ruben were really in the mood, Beatrice in particular living every word and movement. The same for Lisa Peto with daughter Maddy, four, and two-year-old son Ben – although her movements were somewhat hampered by five-months-old baby Jessica, who nestled in a baby carrier on her chest.

“We just love it here,” said Lisa – and the expressions of Maddy and Ben showed she spoke for them as well.

Californian Mikaela Mulligan, in Oxford with her husband who is studying at the Said Business School, felt they had been fortunate to find Hey Diddle Diddle for 17-month-old son Sage] – as well as for herself.

Dad Mat Carberry was made to feel welcome among the mums. His wife Megan was sick so he was in charge of 30-month-old son Adam, while grandparents Chris and Chrissy Spencer loved every second with Anna, nine months.