CHILDREN at a town centre nursery celebrated its first birthday with a party last week.

The Rainbow Nursery on Rock Road, Spennymoor, opened its doors 12 months ago to just six children and now has 86 babies and toddlers enrolled.

Owner Sheila Gardiner and manager Karen Crawford said the first year has been exciting for the 16 staff and all the pupils.

Mrs Crawford said: "We've done all sorts, from visiting libraries to the seaside. We look after babies, the youngest at the moment is four months, and are approved by Ofsted to deliver pre-school education.

"The celebrations are fun and now we are looking to the future, our next project is creating our own website."

She said Jamie Oliver's television series Jamie's School Dinners and campaign for better school meals has struck a chord with the nursery which employs a cook to prepare and serves healthy food every day.