AN OUT-of-school club started by a working mum has celebrated its first birthday.

And it has proved a double celebration for non-profit making company, Live and Kicking, which has just been granted permission to start up a pre-school for two to five year olds in the community.

Fiona Wilson, 39, a child minder for seven years, responded to a cry for help from mums in her local community and now provides care for up to 40 children aged four to 12.

Fiona, of Bishopdale Close, Blackburn, had seen the strain of working families trying to find care for their children when she was turning families away because her books were full.

The company, funded by a grant from NOF (New Opportunities Fund), had been authorised by OFSTED to start their own pre-school group and has also just received a further grant from North West Development to buy a minibus.

Mrs Wilson said the group, of Immanuel Church Hall, Preston Old Road, could then cater for a wider area with transport to drop children off at schools from further afield.

She added: "It is fantastic. This means we could help even more families because I'm sure this is not just a problem in Feniscowles.

"And we are all ready to go with the pre-school as soon as the families need us.

"I can't believe we have done so well so soon that we can start expanding. But I could never have done it without the help of all my staff."