A RURAL playgroup is appealing to hundreds of former pupils to help mark its 20th anniversary.

Fountains Playgroup and Pre-School, in Grantley, near Ripon, which started in a portacabin in the grounds of Fountains School and moved into a purpose-built building there in 2010, will celebrate its development with a reunion party on September 12, from 4pm.

Past pupils, parents, staff and friends are being invited to the attend the event, which will feature a bar, music and pork roast, bouncy castle, face painting and a balloon release.

Dawn Rogers, the third leader of the playgroup, which runs five days a week and takes children from the age of two, said it had received strong support from parents over the years.

She said: "We hope the playgroup continues to go from strength to strength and we will go on to celebrate many more years here in this caring and nurturing environment where children's needs are supported."

For tickets, costing £5 for adults and £2 for under-tens, visit Highside Butchers in Kirkby Malzeard, email fountains.preschool@btconnect.com or call 01765-62001.