A RURAL nursery which has been funded by a National Lottery grant opens its doors today.

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

The venture has been launched by Lesley Thompson, who wanted to offer childcare facilities for youngsters after finding a lack of nurseries in the village and surrounding area.

It was set up, with the aid of an £80,000 grant from the Lottery's New Opportunities Fund, at High Bank Farm, using the 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 Lottery grant came through in June and work began immediately on creating the nursery, with stable buildings on the site forming the after-school facilities.

It is also providing a large outdoor play area and garden, allowing youngsters to grow their own plants.

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

For further information about the nursery, telephone (01325) 365885.