A NURSERY has been given a £65,000 boost that could see the number of its staff rise from four to 30.

North-East fund management firm NEL has invested the money in Middlesbrough nursery and pre-school Great Expectations.

The nursery already employs four qualified staff, who care for 11 children. The investment will allow it to expand until it reaches full capacity, with 90 children and another 26 members of staff.

Great Expectations' managing director William Guthrie said: "It has been a long-term aim of mine to open up a nursery with top-notch facilities to help local parents give their children the best possible start in life.

"Middlesbrough town centre was an obvious choice, offering an excellent opportunity to service professionals working in the local business community who previously didn't have many places to choose from.

"Now we are up and running, we are very keen to raise awareness of what we have to offer to increase take-up of nursery places."

Great Expectations caters for children aged from six weeks to five years and has a variety of facilities, including play, learning, resting, art and IT areas, and an outdoor playground.

Mr Guthrie took his business plan to NEL, which agreed the investment through its specialist debt and mezzanine finance division, Evolve Finance.

James Warren, loan executive at NEL's Teesside office, said: "It's great to see Great Expectations going from strength to strength as the team was able to demonstrate the right credentials and expertise for the project. There is a definite market for the nursery to serve and we are confident it will grow in popularity as more people become aware of the convenience of its location and the variety of services it can deliver."