A NURSERY school group which has spread its wings across the county and beyond in the last decade, has been taken over.

Petit Enfant, based in Carterton, has been snapped up by the childcare division of the Co-operative for an undisclosed sum but the jobs of the 102 staff, including 57 in Witney and Carterton are safe., Founder and managing director Deborah Robinson will now work for the Co-op as head of resourcing.

She said: “I am proud of building the business over 10 years. I know the Co-op will invest in the nurseries and assure them a positive future.”

Petit Enfant has four nurseries at Carterton, Witney, Upper Rissington in Gloucestershire and Thrapston, Northamptonshire, as well as two after-chool clubs at Thrapston and Langford, Gloucestershire.

Co-operative Childcare has 44 nurseries nationally, including four in Oxford.

Group manager Mike Abbott said: “We are delighted Deborah is to continue with us.”