PARENTS have said they are delighted after their toddlers' preschool moved from a peeling Portakabin into an even older building – a Victorian schoolhouse.

The Ark Pre-school in Wantage operated out of an ageing temporary building in the carpark of the town's civic hall for years.

This week it officially re-opened in a 19th century school building just a stone's throw away on Church Street called the Butler Centre.

The building, owned by the parish church and named after Victorian vicar of Wantage William Butler, has more space than the old building and an "outdoor learning area" with climbing frames, balance beams and a sandpit.

Mum Ashley Moore, who joined an official opening ceremony on Monday, said: "My daughter is loving her new classroom and hasn't stopped talking about it."

Fellow parent Charlotte Lane added: "It is a lovely location and a great opportunity for children to play and develop in a larger environment."

The Ark, which currently has about 20 children aged two to five, can now take more children because it has more space.

Chairwoman of The Ark managing committee Pauline Bristow said: "The previous Ark building had certainly seen better days so we are really pleased to re-open our doors in such a charming place.

"Our staff really deserve to work in such wonderful premises which reflect the high standards of care, education and learning the pre-school provides."

The move was enabled thanks to funding from the local education authority Oxfordshire County Council.

Ms Bristow added: "We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Wantage Parish Church and the Butler Centre trustees who made adjustments to the premises for us."

She also thanked the Vale Academy Trust, which runs schools in Wantage and Grove, for its support in the move.

Ark manager Teresa Lishman said: "The staff worked tirelessly over several days to get everything ready for the children’s first day in their new home.

"Their faces were an absolute picture, which made all the hard work worth it."

The Ark rated "Good" by Ofsted at its last inspection in September 2014.

Find out more at thearkpreschoolwantage.org