Police Find Gun and Ammunition at Salford Nursery

Parents whose children attended Mini Fingers Day Nursery in Irlam, Salford, have expressed shock after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) discovered a gun and a substantial quantity of ammunition inside the premises on Wednesday night. The discovery followed the nursery's closure on October 5, which parents initially understood to be caused by financial difficulties, before concerns emerged over a rat infestation and a police investigation.

According to GMP, officers searched the premises after acting on intelligence. The operation involved a Crime Scene Investigation van and Tactical Aid Unit vehicles. Two men, one in his 50s and the other in his 30s, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs, specifically cocaine and cannabis. Both were taken into police custody for questioning.

GMP has not suggested that the firearm discovered at the nursery was connected to its staff or management.

The nursery had also been subject to regulatory action before the police operation. Salford Council issued a prohibition order on Friday, October 2, after a rat infestation was discovered beneath collapsed drains under the baby room. In an email to parents following the inspection, the nursery manager said the rats had entered the main building by burrowing beneath it.

Ofsted, the government's childcare regulator, confirmed that the nursery surrendered its registration on October 5.

Chloe Malpus, a local mother whose two-year-old son attended the nursery, said the revelations had severely affected her confidence in childcare providers.

"It does fill me with guilt," said Chloe Malpus, a local mother.

Malpus explained that leaving a young child in someone else's care had previously been based on the expectation that the child would be safe. She said the experience had left her unwilling to send her son to another nursery.

"Rats are smart enough to stay away when a building is full of people. But a lot of the toys are on the floor, so what if rats were coming in and pooing and urinating all over the things our kids put into their mouths?" Malpus said.

She also raised concerns about how long the firearm might have been inside the building and whether any children could have accessed it.

"It's actually heartbreaking. Could you imagine getting a phone call saying your child has found a gun and shot themselves or someone else?" Malpus said.

Another parent, who requested anonymity, said the initial explanation for the closure had been financial before further information emerged.

"When the email about the closure came in, I thought it was just a financial issue at first. Then you start hearing more and more about what's been happening. It's really shocking," the parent said.

The same mother, whose two-year-old had attended the nursery since it opened in February, also said she had been unable to recover money paid in advance. She said repeated refund requests had been ignored, leaving her needing the money to pay for a replacement childcare placement.

Sophie, another parent, said she had chosen the nursery for her eight-month-old son because she believed it would provide a safe environment. She described feeling devastated by the revelations and questioning whether her child had been safe while attending.

"I am absolutely appalled and heartbroken by what has now come to light. It's made me completely rethink everything and question whether my son was actually safe while he was there. When you choose a nursery for your baby, you put so much trust into the people looking after them. I am honestly in disbelief," Sophie said.

The nursery manager declined to comment directly, saying she was too upset to respond. A spokesperson for the nursery subsequently said the matter was under police investigation and that no further comment could be made at that stage.

Detective Inspector Rich McCorry of GMP's Serious Organised Crime Group said recovering the firearm was significant because it prevented the weapon from potentially reaching the wrong hands. He also thanked the Tactical Aid Unit and Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit for their assistance.

"We will continue to target those involved in organised criminality and pursue anyone seeking to profit from the supply of illegal drugs or the possession of firearms," McCorry said.

A Salford Council spokesperson said the authority recognized the stress the closure and subsequent revelations had caused families. The council was helping parents find alternative childcare in the community and ensuring that eligible free nursery hours could be transferred to replacement providers.