EFFORTS to raise money for a new nursery at a Darlington primary school have been given a boost.

The Charitable Trust of Abbey presented Alderman Leach Primary School with a £100 cheque yesterday.

The money will be used to buy equipment for the nursery, which is expected to open next September.

Already the school has raised almost £100 through parents and staff organising catalogue sales of chocolates and cosmetics.

The school hopes to raise a total of £2,000, to provide outdoor play equipment, musical instruments and additional games for nursery school-age children.

In time it is also hoped to develop an educational toy library.

Headteacher Catherine Thompson said: "This extra donation has given our efforts a real boost. This will be the first time that we have had a nursery facility within the school and so we are starting from scratch."