A NURSERY has been given a grant of £28,000 to develop an out-of-school facility.

The Government has awarded Chaloner Hall Day Nursery, in Guisborough, the grant from its New Opportunities Fund, which focuses Lottery money on health, the environment and education.

The money will be used to convert and refurbish flats above the day nursery into an out-of-school care suite for children aged three to 11.

The rooms will include a fitted kitchen with adapted work tops for the children to learn basic cookery skills, a computer room with supervised access to three computers and a creative room where they can do arts and crafts.

The scheme will provide places for 24 children who can attend before or after school.

Malcolm Griffiths, owner of the nursery, said he was delighted to have received the grant.

He said: "It will make a considerable difference to the service we offer local parents, and we hope to attract people who have previously had no access to this type of childcare. Working parents who have difficulty making arrangements for their children around the school day will certainly benefit."

The success of the bid is partly due to Redcar and Cleveland's Early Years Development and Childcare Part- nership team, at Kirkleatham Street in Redcar. The team is dedicated to developing childcare options in the borough.