One of the parents told the good news to a crowd of almost a thousand protestors at tonight's rally in front of Hackney Town Hall. She recalled how the council had announced to close the nursery as part of recent cuts in social services. Parents had discussed how to protest against this measure and had decided to take direct action and occupy the nursery. "We didn't care whether it was legal or illegal", she said, "it was important to act in order to safe the nursery".

For two weeks parents have been occupying the nursery day and night and have managed to organise basic care for their children themselves. Finally, they have now been told that the nursery will be re-opened. The parent at today's rally commented: "We have proved that direct action works to fight against the cuts and to save the services we are entitled to. If it means taking unofficial action, then that's what it takes."