A POPULAR nursery will be turned into a private home when it closes next month.

Bakers House Day Nursery, in Staindrop, County Durham has been sold exactly a year after it was put up for sale.

The owner of the property, Elaine Johnston, has given staff and parents six weeks notice to find alternative jobs and places after selling the nursery for use as a house.

Three of the staff were due to leave before the owner announced it was to close, but four workers will be made redundant.

Two of the members of staff are planning to open their own nursery after Bakers House closes on September 27.

Ten of the 40 children were due to leave to go on to infant school but the parents of the 30 remaining youngsters will have to make alternative arrangements.

It is believed that the private nursery has been sold for almost £200,000, but Mrs Johnston declined to comment yesterday about the sale.

The property was first put on the market in August last year to be sold through day nursery specialists Ian Moralee.

It was offered for sale on a three-year lease at a premium of £10,000 and annual rent of £5,000 with the option to buy the freehold at a later date.

Established in 1997, the nursery is situated in a converted mid-terraced property.