A PRE-SCHOOL manager is celebrating being named best in the country by a national magazine.

Gill Hunton, of Osmotherley Pre-School, was presented with her nursery Manager of The Year award at the Early Years Educator magazine's annual conference.

The event, at Pavilions of Harrogate, last weekend, was attended by early years workers and experts from across the UK. It was the first time that the conference had been held in Yorkshire.

Mrs Hunton, who has worked at the pre-school for 17 years, said the award recognised all the staff there. It has been running for 33 years and is based in the former caretaker's cottage at Osmotherley Primary School, in the village, near Northallerton.

Mrs Hunton said: "The award is not just for me, it is down to the staff. Every team needs a leader and, hopefully, I fit into that."

The nursery was awarded the Pre-School Learning Alliance national accreditation certificate in 2003 in recognition of its high quality of care.