Tory Billericay MP John Baron joined jubilant organisers, parents and youngsters at the opening of a resurrected pre-school.

Mr Baron joined staff and pupils at the launch of the Step-by-Step pre-school - which was formed during the summer to replace the popular Rainbow presschool.

Rainbow closed due to the ill-health of its former owner, but parents and teachers worked hard throughout the summer to ensure the pupils were not left without a preschool to attend.

Many of Rainbow's staff have stayed on to work at Step-by-Step, which runs daily at the Billericay Baptist Church, in Perry Street.