A FORMER teaching assistant has set up a nursery in Barnton after her to dying husband told her to follow her dreams.

Sue Foy, 55, has launched Little Joe Joe’s Day Nursery, named after her later husband Joe Foy.

Joe lost his battle to cancer in 2010, aged 55.

In his final days Joe, who was the site maintenance officer at Willow Wood Community Primary School in Winsford, encouraged Sue to use his life insurance windfall to set up a nursery.

“He always knew it was my dream to do it,” Sue told the Guardian. “We always wanted to do it together, but we never had the finances.

“When he was dying he said, when you get the insurance money just do it. Do something you’ve always wanted to do.”

Since he died Sue, who has worked in schools and nurseries for 35 years, decided to continue her career, became increasingly demanding.

Two years ago, Sue decided to help their son launch his own business, Team Foy gym in Winnington.

“I kept putting it off, it’s a big step,” Sue said. “Then I thought, just do it.

“If it does fail, I haven’t lost anything as such. I haven’t borrowed any money.

“I just thought I would go for it, I didn’t want to regret not doing it.”

Sue did much of the work herself to try and bring the building to life, with the help of family and staff that she brought with her from her previous job.

“I’m quite proud of myself, and I think Joe would be. He was a really good handyman so he would have done a lot of the work.

“If he was looking down on me he’d be quite proud of that, that I’ve had a go myself.”

Sue said her intention was to create a ‘home away from home’.

She decided to open the nursery in Barnton due to a lack of nursery services in the area,

She said: “I wanted to create if for the kids in Barnton, they’ve had the Sure Start centre taken away, there’s not much for them.”

For more information visit littlejoejoes.co.uk