A MUCH-LOVED nursery which started out in a living room was facing the axe in January 2008.

Elderslie Village Nursery was under threat due to low numbers for session 2008/2009 – and headteacher Anne Judge had to make a crucial decision.

Her mum, Dorothy Bennie, had started the group in her own house in Johnstone’s Overton Crescent 44 years earlier and the nursery had gone from strength to strength since then.

But numbers were drastically down in 2008 and, as a result, fears were raised that the group would close.

At the time, 59-year-old Anne said she would be devastated if the site had to close.

She added: “This would be a vary sad outcome after such a long time serving the Elderslie community.

“This is the 38th year I have run the nursery.

“It was a private nursery but we’ve now been in partnership with the local authority for eight years.

“It’s been a successful place and we’ve not had this problem before.”