A MUM has beaten hundreds of rivals to win a community award after helping to raise £280,000 to set up a nursery.

Sarah Gutsell, 41, was presented with the Outstanding Pre-School Committee Volunteer prize at a ceremony at the Novotel London West Hotel, in Hammersmith.

Judges picked Sarah after reading accounts of her tireless efforts with the Ghyllgrove Playgroup Association in setting up the Barnett Bears Nursery.

She has for three years worked with parents to get grants, and organised events to raise funds for the nursery on the Ghyllgrove Junior School site in Dewlands, Basildon.

The centre opened in January and has already been praised by Ofsted for its care of about 60 tots aged five and under.

Mother-of-three Sarah of Wickhay, Basildon, said: “It was lovely to receive this award, but it was not just for me because I accepted it on behalf of all the people who have helped to make our nursery a reality.

“It has been a fantastic community effort.”

The annual Volunteer Awards ceremony is organised by early-years education charity, the Pre-school Learning Alliance, to acknowledge to work of more than 40,000 pre-school volunteers.

Commenting on Sarah’s win, Karen Ruskin, the alliance’s development officer, said: “None of this would have happened if it had not been for her outstanding commitment, passion and organisation.”