Parents whose babies and toddlers attended a nursery at the centre of a police investigation have been left 'in complete horror' after shocking revelations emerged in the past 24 hours. Mini Fingers Day Nursery, in Irlam, announced its sudden closure on Monday, October 5, at first claiming the 'business was struggling'.
It later emerged Salford Council had issued a prohibition order on Friday, October 2, as a result of a rat infestation beneath collapsed drains under the baby room. In an email sent to parents after the inspection, the nursery manager stated the rats 'had managed to burrow their way into the main building'. The nursery surrendered its Ofsted registration on Monday, the government watchdog has confirmed.
Then, on Wednesday night, acting on intelligence, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers descended on the premises accompanied by a Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) van and Tactical Aid Unit (TAU) vans. Once inside, police uncovered a gun and a 'substantial quantity' of ammunition. Two men, one aged in his 50s and one in his 30s, were both arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs, namely cocaine and cannabis. They have been taken into police custody for questioning.
Parents left 'shaken to the core'
The news has left many parents 'shaken to the core', with two stating it had caused a 'complete breakdown of trust' for nursery settings.
“It does fill me with guilt,” said Chloe Malpus, a local mum whose two-year-old son attended the nursery. “Because you’re handing your child into someone’s care believing they’ll be safe and well looked-after. My kid will no longer be attending any kind of nursery setting ever again. It’s completely destroyed my trust.”
Chloe described how she’d been left 'disgusted' by the news of the rats, with fears the vermin may have been there for some weeks before the inspection took place. “Rats are smart enough to stay away when a building is full of people. But a lot of the toys are on the floor, so what if rats were coming in and pooing and urinating all over the things our kids put into their mouths?”
Responding to the discovery of the gun, Chloe added that she shared fears of other parents about how long the weapon might have been in the property, and whether it could have been accessible to some of the children. She said: “It’s actually heartbreaking. Could you imagine getting a phone call saying your child has found a gun and shot themselves or someone else?”
Parents speak of shock and financial loss
Another parent, who wished to remain anonymous, added: “When the email about the closure came in, I thought it was just a financial issue at first. Then you start hearing more and more about what’s been happening. It’s really shocking.”
The mother of a two-year-old who has been attending the nursery since it first opened in February this year says she’s also been left out-of-pocket after making an advance payment to the nursery immediately before it went bust. “I’ve asked for a refund several times, but kept getting fobbed off and then ignored. I told them I need the money back so I can pay the new placement.”
The council has been supporting parents to find replacement childcare, including ensuring free nursery hours are transferred over to new nurseries. But some parents say they are now struggling to regain trust for institutional settings.
Sophie, another parent, said: “Mini Fingers Day Nursery was the nursery I decided to send my 8-month-old son to. As a first-time mum, I was always in two minds about sending him to nursery with everything you hear about nurseries nowadays. I genuinely felt like Mini Fingers was the right place for him to be safe and thrive. I was wrong.
“I am absolutely appalled and heartbroken by what has now come to light. It’s made me completely rethink everything and question whether my son was actually safe while he was there. When you choose a nursery for your baby, you put so much trust into the people looking after them. I am honestly in disbelief.”
What GMP and council have said
The nursery manager was approached for comment, but said she was 'too upset' to respond at this time. A spokesman for the nursery later responded: “This matter is now subject to a police investigation and at this moment in time we are unable to comment any further.” There is no suggestion from GMP that the gun uncovered at the premises is linked to nursery staff or management.
Det Insp Rich McCorry, from GMP’s Serious Organised Crime Group, said: “The seizure of any firearm is significant it prevents the weapon from falling into the wrong hands, and we have potentially prevented a serious incident occurring recovering this gun. I would like to thank officers from our Tactical Aid Unit and Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit for their support during this operation.
“We will continue to target those involved in organised criminality and pursue anyone seeking to profit from the supply of illegal drugs or the possession of firearms.”
A Salford Council spokesperson said earlier: “This will be a stressful and unsettling time for parents and carers. However, our officers are working with families to help them find alternative childcare provision in the community.”
