A DERELICT former cafe in the heart of a park will soon be brought back to life with children’s laughter as a new nursery prepares to move in.

The Lodge, in Lascelles Park, Upton, has been refurbished to the tune of £250,000 after it fell into disrepair and was targeted by vandals since closing in 2005.

Lascelles Park Nursery won a Slough Borough Council tender to lease the property and is set to open to 28 two to four-year-olds in January.

The listed building, built in 1932, will also house the Beehive Foundation upstairs – a charity supporting children in crisis families – and provide changing rooms for Thames Valley Youth FC.

Clare Johnson-Alem, nursery manager and charity trustee, said: “We are putting a bit of life back into that park – it’s going to be brilliant.” The nursery will be run by the same team that looks after Dragonflies Pre School, based at Slough Bowls Club, and the Buzz Kidz out of school classes.

It has signed a 15-year lease.

Stephen Gibson, head of asset management for Slough Borough Council, said: “Historically Lascelles Lodge played an important role in giving vitality to the park and attracting visitors.

“It’s a lovely old building and part of Slough’s rich heritage, and the refurbishments have protected it for another generation.

“We’re delighted it’s being given a new lease of life as home to the nursery and the football club and we look forward to the official opening when the new tenants move in early next year.”