A chain of three nurseries in Croydon has been temporarily closed amid concerns for children's health and safety following an inspection by the education watchdog Ofsted.

The privately-owned Children's Paradise nurseries in Elgin Road, Addiscombe, Chatsworth Road, Croydon, and Crowther Road, South Norwood, which care for children of pre-school age, were served with suspension notices after inspectors discovered unvetted staff working at all three premises along with a number of health and safety hazards.

A bottle of the chemical Cuprinol found on a shelf in an unlocked garden shed within easy reach of children at the Chatsworth Road premises was just one of the concerns raised by inspectors, as well as broken glass on the ground outside.

In Crowther Road inspectors found the garden overgrown with stinging nettles, a broken window in the shed and broken fencing separating the garden from the neighbour's premises.

Other concerns at Elgin Road included the babies' sleeping room located under a glass roof which is too hot for infants.

In a letter to Children's Paradise (UK) Ltd, Ofsted officials said the company's continued breach of Government childcare regulations sparked concerns about its suitability to offer a satisfactory standard of childcare.

However, Natasha Burrows, deputy operations director of Children's Paradise, said around 80 per cent of the concerns raised by Ofsted had already been rectified and the nurseries were expected to reopen this week.

She said: "We will be closed for a short period to carry out some minor maintenance work.

"Children's Paradise provides good quality care and we can reassure parents that we have no intention of closing."

Following the unannounced inspection in May, Ofsted served Children's Paradise with a suspension notice on July 4, which is effective until August 15.

An Ofsted spokesman said: "Ofsted is required to lift the suspension once the reasons for the notice are met or the registered provider successfully appeals the notice at the Care Standards Tribunal. The suspension notice will remain if the reasons for it being served remain."

Croydon Council has advised concerned parents of children attending the nurseries should call the borough's Children's Information Service.

Call 0845 111 1100.