A FUNDRAISING campaign has been launched to help get a nursery back up and running following a fire at the Grade II-listed Hale Methodist Church yesterday afternoon (April 25).

Children from Greenways Nursery School were evacuated at around 2.30pm, after a neighbour’s bonfire reportedly caused the fire.

According to Davinia Walder, a worshipper and member of the church council, the fire began when debris from the bonfire set light to the nursery’s sheds in the church garden.

It then spread to a nearby tree and on to the roof of the Victorian church overlooking Hale Green.

Nursery manager Julie Christian was visibly upset after being shown inside the building at around 4.40pm, telling bystanders “it’s just a shell, there’s nothing left”.

Now, within just 12 hours of being set up, a GoFundMe page created by Julie’s daughter Lauren Christian has raised almost £1,000.

With a target of £2,000 to raise, Lauren set up the fundraising page “to help my mum build the nursery up to what it used to be”.

Money raised will be used to buy books, toys, learning resources and outdoor equipment.

To make a donation, go to gofundme.com/rebuilding-greenways-nursery .