TWO successful career women have changed direction to set up in business for themselves.

Working mothers Andrea Fish and Clair Grimes are soon to open a 70-place children's nursery following business start-up guidance from the North East of England Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) in Sunderland.

The nursery, in Station Road, Seaham, east Durham, will create up to 25 jobs for qualified staff.

Buttercup Nurseries, will open at the end of July after the women identified a growing shortage of nursery provision in the area.

Ms Fish, 40, worked as a purchasing and technical executive for Sara Lee Courtaulds, in Peterlee, and Ms Grimes, 33, was a financial advisor with Abbey National.

Their experience of the difficulties of juggling childcare with full time jobs spurred the move.

The nursery was built with help from the Government's Neighbourhood Nurseries scheme.

Ms Fish said: "Demand for nursery care in the area is on the increase, as new housing developments at Seaham Colliery and Vane Tempest have added another 800 households.

"While there are many state nurseries around, there is only one other small private nursery to cater for the needs of working parents with babies and small children."