Mothers have won a Christmas victory stopping Tower Hamlets council closing four nurseries in London’s deprived East End which also cater for toddlers with special needs.

Mayor Lutfur Rahman made a dramatic U-turn at last night’s Town Hall cabinet meeting when the mothers turned up for an 11th-hour plea to reverse his earlier decision in September.

We’re absolutely elated—it’s the best Christmas present we could hope for,” mother-of-two Dion Cayley told the East London Advertiser.

“Our kids get to keep their nurseries, especially the disabled youngsters who badly need the one-to-one care they get.

“These nurseries are a big step in their development, where they get the right care.

“This decision is everything we’ve dreamed of after campaigning for two months.”

Now the mums plan to take their children to the Town Hall with gifts for the Mayor for making their Christmas dream come true.

Last night’s U-turn follows a stream of criticism against the Mayor when a deputation of mothers addressed last week’s full council meeting, with both Labour and Tory Opposition councillors condemning his plans announced in September to “review” the nurseries.

Only the Mayor’s own Tower Hamlets First caucus voted against a motion to stop the closures.

Last night’s U-turn also follows a fact-finding tour of the four nurseries by the Mayor’s front-bench spokesman, Cllr Gulam Robbani, when he came face-to-face with the parents and met the children.

It was a Christmas Story come true for the campaigning mums who now have a secured future for their toddlers, some of whom need special one-to-one care the nurseries offer.