A LACK of nursery school provision in a County Durham village has been addressed thanks to the efforts of a handful of dedicated parents.

Facilities are now available for 18 three to four-year-olds in Witton Gilbert, near Durham, giving them an insight to classroom life before they move to the neighbouring primary school.

Space has been found in an unused room at the infant end of the 100-pupil school, in Sacriston Lane, equipped by a growing number of grant awards.

Witton Gilbert Pre-School, as the registered early years nursery is known, is beginning its second year having successfully raised £5,453.

The bulk of that figure, £4,173, was officially handed over at a presentation at the pre-school classroom by Witton Gilbert parish councillor and city council member Ray Gibbon.

It was obtained via the National Lottery Millennium Festival Awards for All scheme, but other cash backing has come from the Durham County Foundation, the North-East children's charity, Yellow Brick Road, and a Co-op dividend, with other support from local councils.

Grateful recipient Lynn Markwell, who runs the pre-school, said the latest funding will help to meet the cost of a variety of resources, including construction, literacy, numeracy, role-play and information technology equipment.

She said: "We started with nothing, with borrowed equipment from the school and play group, but the parish council has been very good.

"We have gone from strength to strength and we are now at full capacity with 18 children.

"We couldn't take any more, but there's a growing waiting list and it's possible we could start an afternoon class," said Lynne, who is helped by nursery assistant Louise Turnbull. Their next target is £400 to meet the cost of a sandpit play area.