A nursery has been shut down by Ofsted officials amid safeguarding concerns and fears children "may be at risk of harm".

Tiny Stars, in Wincheap, Canterbury, is suspended from reopening until significant changes to its day-to-day management are made.

Inspectors want leaders at the Simmonds Road centre to have a "secure knowledge and understanding of the early years foundation", implement staff contingency arrangements, improve safety and take appropriate action to minimise hazards.

A qualified deputy manager must also be introduced and relevant risk assessments are to be implemented.

Officials forced the nursery to close down on July 29 for a six-week suspension.

The nursery was rated inadequate by Ofsted in 2018, when electrical wires were found in reach of young children and trip hazards were left out where toddlers play.

Staff, however, managed to turn things around and the centre was regraded as 'good' one year later.

Reviews online have also been glowing over the past two years, with the nursery boasting a score of 9.8 out of 10 on daynurseries.co.uk.

A notice on display at the locked nursery states how the management team are "profusely apologetic" about the suspension.

It reads: "The core reason is that we need to ensure we have more staff available for when members of the core team are unable to attend.

"We have been asked to nominate a deputy manager, amend the locking mechanism on the fire gate, and improve ventilation.

"We have a full plan of action. We are profusely apologetic for the undue stress this is going to cause many parents."

The notice states how the nursery was hoped to reopen in mid-August following the introduction of changes - but the centre remains closed as things stand.

The Ofsted suspension ruling ends today (Thursday), but it is not known when, or if, the nursery can reopen.

When approached by KentOnline this week, Tiny Stars declined to provide a comment.