Motorist ploughs into Liversedge nursery just minutes after toddlers had left building

The silver vehicle sent debris flying across the floor of Little Rainbows Day Nursery, on Halifax Road, as parents were putting their kids in their cars and saying goodbye to staff.

Joanne Alvy, 36, who runs the business with her husband Simon, 46, said they were “devastated” by the crash, which took place around 5.50pm on Monday, December 12.

And she believed the driver, who police later arrested, had “lost control” of his vehicle before flying across a patch of grass and smashing into her nursery.

Joanne said she was “relieved” no one was hurt in the incident but added it was tough to see her business - where 117 youngsters are enrolled - suffer just before Christmas.

The mum-of-two said: “It happened at about 5.50 pm. The last child had just left the building. His parents were literally in the car park, getting in their car, when it happened.

“The driver, basically, lost control and then he's gone across the grass, which slowed him a little bit, then managed to hit a corner section of the wall.

“The corner of the nursery was completely caved in. It took the radiator off the wall, so there was water everywhere. There was just a massive hole in the wall.

“We are very relieved and grateful that nobody was hurt, but at the same time, we’re devastated that this has happened to our business. It’s our livelihood. It’s our passion.

“You don’t run a nursery for the money, you run it because you care – and there’s a knock-on impact.”

Joanne, who lives next door to the day care centre, said staff had come running to her door after the car ploughed into the wall.

And although friends and family, along with other nurseries, had offered her support, she still felt the crash had been a hammer blow to the nursery.

She said: “We’ve had offers of support from families that access the nursery, and other nurseries have offered support and help to provide child care.

“We’ve even had our local MP's office offer support.

“But it’s devastating. It’s been such a hard few years, particularly through Covid. It’s been really, really tough.

“So for this to then happen is an absolutely huge blow. But we will come back fighting. We will get it fixed and get the doors open."

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “At 6.01 pm [on Monday] police received a report of a vehicle colliding with a wall in Halifax Road, Liversedge.

“Officers attended and found that the collision had damaged the wall of a building.

“No injuries were reported.

“A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit and remains in custody while enquiries continue.

“Structural engineers were notified and the vehicle was recovered for examination.”