SCHOOLCHILDREN have helped to start work on a new £250,000 nursery.

Children from Lumley Medway Infant School, near Chester-le-Street, this week joined councillors and teachers cutting the turf to mark the start of work on a 26-place childcare unit.

The nursery will have a covered play area and is expected to be completed in August.

Headteacher Joan Lawlan said: "Some of the children were wearing hard hats and the yellow outfits people on building sites wear.

"They were very excited about it because it will directly affect their families and the community at large. It has been coming for a number of years and it is going to be something really special."

The single-storey building in the grounds of the school will also have an office, laundry room and store room.

Mrs Lawlan added: "There was once a time when children couldn't get a nursery place because there weren't enough but now that shouldn't be a problem. It is going to have a great impact for parents of young children and is a great bonus for the village. It means that most children will have a year to get used to socialising with others before going into mainstream education."