More than 100 people attended the official opening of a new pre-school nursery in Burnsall on Saturday.

The governors and trustees of Burnsall VA Primary School purchased the redundant Methodist Chapel and converted it, at their own expense, into a pre-school nursery for babies and children up to the age of five.

Elizabeth Grayshon, chairman of the governors, said the initiative would provide families with child care facilities and education for their children up to the age of 11.

Saturday’s ceremony marked the completion of a three-year project. Governors had originally planned to build a pre-school nursery on the school site but limited funding prevented this. So, when the former Burnsall Methodist Chapel came on the market in 2010, the governors asked the trustees to purchase the building as it would provide a more cost-effective way to provide nursery facilities in Upper Wharfedale.

The new nursery can cater for up to 30 children.