A NEW £70,000 preschool which will provide education for 60 pupils is nearing completion.

Hope Preschool, an offshoot of Hope Church, in Watson Street, Accrington, is set to open in September.

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Church members, who raised more than £50,000 for the cause with a series of events, hope the new facility will be used to provide family support in the future.

Pamela Wharton, 44, said: “We had a vision for this two years ago. It is a large building and we are passionate about meeting the needs of the community.

“The church wanted to create somewhere for children to go once they reached nursery age.

“A huge section at the end of the building will be used. There are two large rooms for the more structured elements of the day and a huge play area for the children.

“There will be craft-based activities as well as water play, and a new modern natural-based playground with wood and plants.”

Work has been ongoing for 18 months ahead of a planned opening in September, with two large classrooms, new toilets and a playground making up the new facility.

One of the classrooms will be used for two-year-olds, while the other will be used for three to four-year-olds.

There are 12 families from the church’s toddlers group who have registered an interest in joining the school when it opens.

Qualified teachers and nursery teachers who are members at Hope Church have put themselves forward to volunteer as staff.

Qualified social worker and church member Mrs Wharton said: “We hope to take on an apprentice and are glad that the preschool will create employment opportunities for the community.

“We are hoping that this venture will expand beyond child care into family support.

“It will be like a Church of England school with a Christian ethos but it will be open to everyone in the locality.”

Church members have mucked in by taking part in “work days” to help with general tasks.

Scott Eccles undertook a walk to fundraise for the cause and another charity walk from Blackpool Tower to Lammack is also being organised.

A £20,000 grant for external work was secured from the Newground Together Trust, a social enterprise supporting environmental and community programmes to regenerate areas.

Mrs Wharton said: “Our hope is to give children a solid start and foundation as well as giving them a quality education.”