TWO-YEAR-OLD Owen Milburn celebrated his birthday in style yesterday by officially opening a £738,000 centre for families and children.

Owen, whose mum Adele has been among a group of parents who have helped plan the design and construction of the West Redcar Sure Start building next to Green Gates Primary School, was given a helping hand from headteacher Henry Skene at the ribbon-cutting.

The building, which has a glass mural with a seaside theme in the centre's foyer, has a 13-place creche, a 46-place neighbourhood nursery, play therapy and counselling rooms, a training and meeting room and outdoor play facilities, designed by parents in conjunction with Groundwork Trust South Tees.

There is also a one-stop shop offering various support services.

Vanessa Newlands, children's centre manager, said: "Parents can take a lot of credit for this centre, they've had the confidence and honesty to tell us what they want and need us to deliver.

"We've also had the commitment of key agencies and it's an exciting time of great change."