THERE was a surprise awaiting the staff and children of Ashwater Playgroup when they returned from their summer holidays.

Over the break Andy Hardy, owner of Premier Carpets in Launceston, had been told the playgroup was in desperate need of a new carpet for its playroom — he decided to donate enough new carpet and underlay to re-carpet the whole play area.

Paul Graham, one of the carpet fitters from Pennygillam-based Premier Carpets and an Ashwater resident, gave up many hours of his spare time to fit the carpet.

Alison Hampton, play leader at Ashwater Playgroup, said: “It was a wonderful surprise to walk back into playgroup at the start of the term and find the carpet. I had no idea what Andy, Paul and the staff at Premier Carpets had been up to while we had been away.

“The carpet has made such a difference to our room. It looks beautiful and is very hard wearing. I am sure it will last for many years. We all spend a lot of time down on the floor during sessions and this is a much nicer surface for the children to play on.”

Victoria Yelland, chairperson, added: “It is the generosity of people like Andy and Paul that makes all the difference to small groups like ours. They are helping us to provide the best possible environment for the children who use our group. We try to provide the best possible environment for the children in our care and the lovely new carpet has definitely added to this. We all want to say a huge thank you!”

Ashwater Playgroup is open Monday to Friday during school term time. Staff can be contacted on 07833633458 during playgroup hours.