Families and former employees of Alpha Nurseries have expressed concern and anger over the sudden closure of the business last Friday.

The announcement of the closure has left Suffolk families spending the Bank Holiday weekend desperately looking for alternative arrangements for their children when they return to work this week.

And staff have also taken to social media to express their sadness that they had no chance to say goodbye to children they have come to know very well.

Lorraine Steele posted: "Treehouse was an amazing nursery all five of my children have been there my youngest is one of the children affected by this closure.

"The staff were absolutely amazing with my two sons. My daughter who was attending treehouse couldn't wait to get back to nursery to see all the staff and children and is absolutely gutted to not be going back.

"We are gutted we weren't given the opportunity to say a proper goodbye."

Rachel Burton who worked at Burlington After School Club said: "It was a total shock getting that phone call yesterday saying that I was not going back to work.

"I did not get to say goodbye to any of the children or parents." 

Alpha Nurseries' shock closure

A significant number of nurseries across Suffolk have been mentioned as having spaces - and as looking to recruit staff.

However how many of those are operating over the bank holiday weekend to provide care for families preparing to go back to work this week is unclear.

Several people have expressed anger about the abruptness of the closure - families were told on Friday afternoon and were expected to collect children straight away.

Donna Roper said: "The way it’s been done is absolutely disgraceful. My niece is one of the staff affected and to hear at 2.30pm that you have no job and letting the parents know they have no childcare. Not a Happy New Year for all those people."