A COMMUNITY has finally got a new nursery -- inside a converted pub.

Care 4 Kids opened its doors to the first youngsters in Mill Hill, Blackburn, just three months after the owners received £70,000 from the Government to support the project.

Michelle Newton and husband Jonathan, from Accrington, won £70,000 from the New Opportunities Fund's Building Neighbourhood Nurseries programme.

The pot of cash was set up by the Government to support private nurseries opening in deprived areas which have a shortage of childcare provision.

The couple, along with Michelle's parents Graham and Pat Sutton, of Rochdale, have spent the last year putting together the nursery scheme, with the support of the early years team at Blackburn with Darwen Council. Their new nursery -- created inside the old Galligreaves pub in Agnes Street -- will cater for 68 childcare places, including 15 full places for under twos, plus 26 for school age children.

It is a first-time venture for Michelle and Jonathan, who decided to start the nursery after struggling to find affordable, quality childcare for their three children.

Michelle, a solicitor, said: "We think we are the first to open with this money in the area.

"The money was available for schemes being set up in areas the Government thought were deprived.

"There is certainly a shortage of childcare facilities and that can have a knock-on effect for the whole community. It can stop parents going back to work, for example."

She added: "Often, because of the high staff-to-child ratio needed for under twos, nurseries can't afford to provide spaces.

"Thanks to the money we have received, we can afford to provide 15 places, which are slowly starting to fill up.

"All in all, we have spent £200,000 on the project, although we are running six weeks late."

Officers from the Department for Education travelled to Blackburn to see the scheme in operation. Four similar nurseries, all run privately, have been approved elsewhere in Blackburn with Darwen.

Care 4 Kids have employed a nursery manager and have created a further 20 staff jobs. There are also plans to create links with the college, to offer places to 16 and 17-year-old parents so that they can continue their education.

Lancashire County Council has secured £5million to support similar projects in Burnley, Pendle and Hyndburn -- which also have wards deemed by the Government to be among the most deprived in the country.

Private organisations are in the process of bidding for the money from the county council. New projects are on the cards, along with expansions to established childcare services.