A NURSERY initiative in the Bacup and Stacksteads area has responded to parents' calls for evening meetings.

A total of 112 questionnaires were sent out by Government-funded Sure Start and 30 were returned.

All but one of the respondents said they had heard of the scheme to improve the lives of the under-fours and their parents.

Four of the questionnaires called for evening or weekend meetings and one person said: "Meeting times are during the day which excludes working parents and reinforces the belief that Sure Start is for poorer families." It is now being considered to hold every alternate meeting in the evening and a creche will be provided at all venues, in response to demand.

A family fun day will be held on May 30 from 11am to 2pm at Bacup Leisure Hall and it will be a celebration to coincide with the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

There will be a variety of activities for parents and children and a present for every child attending.

It is also planned to hold an event in Stacksteads but the date has yet to be agreed. Contact Jackie O'Dell on 01706 871740 for more details.