STAFF at a children's nursery are celebrating after securing a government grant of more than £20,000.

Children and teachers at Les Enfants Private Nursery, in Higher Avondale Road, Darwen, have been pledged a total of £21,600 from the New Opportunities Fund.

The money was part of a £140,000 lottery jackpot awarded to four childcare centres across Blackburn and Darwen.

It will now be used to help set up a new before and after-school club which is due to start in September. Up to 16 youngsters will now be fully cared for in the morning session, as well as another 16 after school finishes in the afternoon.

Bosses at the school have already spent about £28,000 on buying new land, building an extension on the existing premises and furnishings for the centre.

Principal Kevin Cookson said: "It's a big step forward for us. We have built the extension already but we wouldn't have been able to afford to set the scheme up if it hadn't been for the grant.

"We have been applying for it for the last six months and we've been asked to provide a lot of things about why we think we should be given the money. We are all really pleased now."