New owner Carole Melia has renamed the former Yellow Brick Road Nurseryas the Old Fire Station Nursery, to reflect the building's past.
The official opening day in November was even attended by the local firebrigade, along with the Mayor of Mossley and councillors. Ms Melia said,'We weren't going to hold a typical open day, and originally justinvited other nurseries in the local area. But somehow the fire stationheard about the nursery and asked if they could come along and bring afire engine.'
Ms Melia, who has previous experience of setting up and running daynurseries, said she wanted to update the Mossley setting while honouringits historic past.
More than 1m has gone into renovating the building, which now hasa full biometric security system both internally and externally, a largeplayroom, a soft play area, and a real fire engine cab.
Ms Melia said that she was approached by staff from Yellow Brick LaneNursery who had been looking for someone to take over the nursery afterits sudden closure in October 2006.
'Initially I didn't want to take it on as I have retired, but I changedmy mind after five days and bought the nursery over Christmas.'
The Old Fire Station nursery employs some of the staff who worked at theYellow Brick Road. It offers 270 childcare places.
Ms Melia, who also owns a prep school, said she decided to invest innurseries 15 years ago after being made redundant and giving birth toher son, who needed constant medical supervision.