YOUNGSTERS at a Barnard Castle nursery have been actively involved with the move to their new premises.
Children from Kirklands Day Nursery have been helping to move some of their toys and equipment from Bede Road to their new site in the former Startforth Morritt Primary School building.
Since the school closed in 2016, volunteers have reopened the site as a community centre. Kirklands Day Nursery is the latest group to make use of the redundant space.
Nursery owner Janice Duffy-McGhie has operated the nursery on the ground floor of her family home on Bede Road for the past 34 years.
She believes the space in the former school will give greater scope for learning.
She said: “We’ll have a separate room for music, exercise and yoga sessions and a separate area for eating.
“We’ll use the hall for ballet lessons. The outside area is three times larger with a little wooded area, outdoor classroom and vegetable garden.
“We have had several visits and talks about our new nursery. Parents have been visiting on Saturdays so everyone is well prepared.”
Recent weeks have seen the former Startforth reception and nursery classrooms redecorated in time for the big move on Monday, March 5.
New flooring and a new kitchen have also been fitted. An official opening day is expected to take place next month.
Ms Duffy-McGhie added: “All four of my children went to Startforth Primary School. I loved the location with the views over Barnard Castle, fresh air and lambs bleating in the fields.
“It was a shame when the closure happened.
“As demand rises, especially with all of the new building in Startforth, it might warrant the whole place open again.
“We could be the start of that. I hope our relocation will bring the building back to life.”
