A PLAYGROUP, faced with closure after its building was condemned, has been rescued by the community.

Rainbow Playgroup launched a desperate bid for £200,000 funding for a new base but feared it could be forced to close before the money was raised.

Urgent repairs were needed to the group’s current home — a 30-year-old portable building — in Hendon Place, Bicester. The charity’s committee bills could run into thousands of pounds.

But then in stepped Ted Owen who offered to do the work for free and roped in building supply firm Travis Perkins, a gutter specialist and a plumber to help.

Committee secretary Roz Edwards said the move had secured Rainbow’s future, while it continued to fund raise for the new building.

Ted Owen, whose wife, Kay, works as a playgroup assistant at Rainbow and is a partner in his building form SE Owen, said the playgroup was given a list of work by Oxfordshire County Council that must be done. He said: “Basically they had to comply or close down.

“They hadn’t go the money and I knew I had to help out. Because I am a local builder and had spent a lot of money at Travis Perkins I asked if they could help too. They said yes.

“The community spirit has been fantastic.”

Labour alone for the work would have cost about £2,000.

Mark Davis, manager of Travis Perkins, said staff also agreed to donate their time to help with the repairs.

He said: “Rainbow Playgroup was told the building was basically going to be condemned if they did not do a certain amount of work on it in the next seven weeks.

“We will do what we can and supply what we can to get the playgroup up and running.”

Mrs Edwards said: “I think it’s absolutely fantastic. It brought tears to our eyes. It gives us some security.”

The playgroup is still looking for people to volunteer their time and help with the building work.

Call Mrs Edwards on 07969 453903.