CHILDREN and staff from a Darwen nursery are celebrating top marks from a June OFSTED report.

Education and care standards were declared first-class at St Barnabas Nursery, on Watery Lane, which has 47 children aged from birth to school age.

Nursery manager Tamaris Collins said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive top marks and it's a credit to the staff, parents, pupils and everyone involved in the nursery. I'm very proud of everyone who works here."

The nursery, established in 1988, was assessed on 14 standards including care, education, health and safety, teaching and behaviour. It obtained a 'good' mark for education and 'acceptable and of high quality' for care - the highest grades in both aspects.