A director of the building company that refurbished Branksome Children’s Centre has “apologised unreservedly” after glass and a knife blade were dug up by youngsters.

The Daily Echo told yesterday how children playing with spades had unearthed the sharp objects in flower beds at the new centre in Poole Road, which had been open only for a matter of days.

In a statement, Drew Construction director Paul Gillard said: “We were extremely disturbed to hear that the topsoil imported for the Branksome Children’s Centre contained inappropriate material (small pieces of glass).

“The supplier of the material has replaced it with screened virgin topsoil and our labour is in the process of removing and reinstating the areas concerned.”

“The topsoil originally used is from a reputable, recognised source and we believe they have acted appropriately as soon as the matter was brought to their attention.

“We have no clear explanation for the existence of the knife blade in the soil, and we are currently carrying out some further investigations into this element of the matter.”

He added: “We unreservedly apologise for any inconvenience we have caused.”

Parents were horrified by the incident at the £700,000 Sure Start centre and the Borough of Poole has launched an investigation into the matter.