Heroic haul by mighty mums (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Heroic haul by mighty mums from Ashton Keynes Pre-School

11:00am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in News By Laura Shack

A BARMY army of mums dragged a bus through Ashton Keynes at the weekend in a bid to keep a local pre-school open.

Around 200 people turned out to see the 14 mums in motion as they pulled the 16 tonne coach through the village in style, wearing fancy hats and with a police escort.

And applause rained down as the women heaved the bus across the finish line at High Road Playing Fields, where a village fete was already in full swing.

Around £1,500 has been raised so far from the event, which will contribute towards the £4,000 it costs to keep Ashton Keynes Pre-School open every year.

Erica Cook, a committee member at the charitable pre-school, said: “We hauled the coach along one mile but it felt more like ten miles. It was much harder than we’d anticipated.

“It was a fantastic day and was really well supported by the whole village.”

Erica said keeping the vibrant learning space open was vital for the community.

“It’s really important for us to keep it going - otherwise children would have to travel to different villages or towns,” she said.

“And it’s a really great way for children to get to know all the other children in the village before they go to their main school.”

To donate visit justgiving.com/akbuspull