A PLAYGROUP which faced closure after its building was condemned has been saved by the community in a DIY SOS-style rescue bid.

Rainbow Playgroup launch-ed a desperate appeal for money to overhaul its base, but feared it could close before the money was raised.

Urgent repairs were needed on the 30-year-old portable building in Hendon Place, off Sunderland Drive, Bicester.

But to the relief of parents and staff the community pulled together and has chipped in with materials and labour to fix the school.

It means the playgroup, which has been open for 25 years, can stay open, although it is still fundraising for a new £200,000 building.

Builder Ted Owen offered to do the work for free and roped in building supply firm Travis Perkins.

He also managed to persuade a gutter specialist and a plumber to give up their time.

Mr Owen, whose wife Kay works as a playgroup assistant at Rainbow, said Oxfordshire County Council gave the playgroup a list of work that had to be done.

He said: “Basically, they had to comply or close down. They hadn’t got the money and I knew I had to help and volunteer my services.”

Committee secretary Roz Edwards said the move had secured Rainbow’s future.

She said: “We can safely open in September and as far as we are concerned we’re going to stay open now until we have enough money for our new building.

“I think it’s absolutely fantastic. It brought tears to our eyes, it means that much to us and gives us the security that we can offer extra services.

“We want to show the public we are here to stay.”

The work included rebuilding ramps, repairing the toilet and replacing guttering.

Labour costs for the work would have run into thousands of pounds, while hundreds would also have been spent on materials.

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.”

Mr Owen added: “Because I’m a local builder and had spent a lot of money at Travis Perkins I asked if they could help and they said ‘yes’ we have a company scheme.

“The community spirit has been fantastic.”

From September the playgroup will take children as young as two and offer lunchtime clubs.

Next year the playgroup will open for all day sessions from 9am to 2.45pm.

The playgroup is looking for people to volunteer their time and help with the building work – and someone to lend them a skip for rubbish.

Anyone who can help should call Mrs Edwards on 07969 453903