A DARLINGTON playgroup celebrated its 30th anniversary yesterday with a party.

Sue Tinkler, who has been the Pierremont Playgroup's leader for the past 14 years, said that the group started off with 12 youngsters on two mornings a week. Since then it has doubled in size.

"It started off as somewhere for mums to leave their children for a couple of mornings a week. But now we have 25 children at each of the four sessions a week.

"The group is run entirely by myself and seven other unpaid volunteers," she said.

The sessions at Holy Trinity Youth Centre, in Pierremont Road, were started by Sue Reed, who was also at the party yesterday.

Mrs Tinkler said: "The party was fantastic, the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves, as did the staff, past and present.

"It is a big landmark in the playgroup's history. It must be one of the oldest in the town."

As well a providing a safe atmosphere for youngsters to play, the group also helps children aged two to five years develop and prepare for school. It also received a glowing Ofsted report earlier his year.