A rural nursery, funded by a National Lottery grant, opens for the first time today.

High Bank Nursery, in Stapleton, near Darlington, is providing 38 places and 17 after-school club places.

The venture has been launched by Lesley Thompson, who wanted to offer childcare facilities after examining the lack of nurseries in the area.

It has been established at at High Bank Farm, using buildings once occupied by a financial services business.

She said: "We decided in October last year that we would retire from our financial services business and sold that in March.

"But they are beautiful old buildings and we decided it would be a shame to leave them empty. We were in desperate need of childcare in this area: the nearest nursery was Scorton, ten miles away."

The centre received £80,000 from the lottery's New Opportunities Fund.

Notification of the grant came through in June and work began immediately, with stable buildings forming the after-school facilities.

The centre also provides a large outdoor play area and garden, allowing youngsters to grow plants.

The nursery is already nearly full, providing places for children from Stapleton and nearby communities including Cleasby, Manfield and Aldbrough St John.

For further information about the nursery, which was officially opened by Richmond Conservative MP William Hague on Friday, telephone (01325) 365885.