THE construction company which built a supermarket on Shoebury Garrison has donated £1,000 to a local preschool.

Longcross Construction celebrated the opening of Sainsbury’s Local, in New Garrison Road, by presenting a cheque to Caraline Walker, manager of Little Fishes Pre- School.

Little Fishes cares for children between two-and-a-half and five years of age, and is held at Shoeburyness and Thorpe Bay Baptist Church in Thorpedean Gardens, Shoebury.

Caraline said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen for the donation – it was a lovely surprise and really out of the blue. They told us they really want to support local charities in the community, which we are, so it was lovely for them to choose us.

“We’ve earmarked most of the money to improve and enhance the outside play area.

We want to invest in sensory play equipment, which will include a messy play area where children can safely pretend to “cook” with mud and an interactive water fountain.

“We’re really excited about installing the equipment, because it will really help with the children’s physical development, communication and language skills. We haven’t been able to replace or buy new equipment because we’re feeling the financial strain.”