NUMBERS at a Barrow nursery have doubled since an ambitious project saw a whole building moved to create the new service.

Dane Ghyll Community Primary School opened a new on-site nursery in September after acquiring a building which was lifted onto the school grounds.

The building that the new nursery is now in was originally based at the Hawcoat Community centre, across the road from the school.

Headteacher Peter Mills said the nursery has proved popular and had 'passed all expectations'.

“There was a pre-school across the road in the community centre which was fantastic but because it was in a community club it could only open certain hours," he said.

“Although it had been established and there for a long time, the community wasn’t being given their childcare needs.

“We had the idea of creating the nursery, which will provide wrap around care that’s more joined up with our way of thinking."

He added: “We would never have been able to afford to build a new building.

“We moved the building in five parts by using cranes.

“Now that the nursery is on our site the numbers have doubled and it’s nearly full.

“We are big on our eco stuff.

"We are trying to be as efficient as we can be.

“The kids now have a huge play area as well as a nature area.

“Everyone was amazed by how big the building is.

“We opened on September 2 and it’s been really popular and it has passed all expectations.

“I was worried about affecting the community centre so we also rent the centre out and hold a parent and toddler group on a Tuesday.”

The parent and toddler group runs on Tuesday afternoons at Hawcoat Community Centre from 1.15-2.45pm.

Children aged four and under are welcomed to play along with their parents or carers.