A RUNDOWN site of a former care home has been reopened as a nursery by two sisters who “fell in love” with the building.

Laura Paternoster and Sian Williams were delighted when Tendring Council approved her plans to turn the former Abbeyfields care home into a day nursery.

They took over the site, in Fronks Road, Dovercourt last year and opened it for children last month.

There are ten children on their books and nine members of staff including a chef and managers.

Laura, nursery practice manager said: “I always thought Harwich was short on places for childcare and having spent my whole life in the industry it seemed like the right time to start one.

“Both me and my sister were fed up with our jobs and just happened to stumble upon the property for sale on the internet.”

Laura worked as a lecturer who taught childcare to college students and Sian worked as a legal secretary based in London.

Laura said: “We arranged a viewing and fell in love with it instantly and realised that the way it was set out was the perfect layout.

“Nothing structurally needed doing, so we went to auction and bid on it and won it. Once we got the keys, work began straight away.”

All staff live locally and the youngest staff member who recently qualified this summer is 17-years-old.

Laura added: “We are really pleased with how our first eight weeks have gone and are delighted we already have ten on our books.

“We hope to advertise more over the next coming months to increase our numbers but are really enjoying it and are so glad we took the plunge.”