A NURSERY could be built at a Whitefield primary school after planners gave the green light.

Mersey Drive Primary School has 195 pupils, but out-of-school provision is limited so some parents take their youngsters to Besses Children’s Centre half a mile away in Ribble Drive.

Toddlers Pre-School Learned Ltd, which runs the Besses centre, tabled plans to bring a large portable building onto the land at Mersey Drive so it can be used as a nursery and a before and after school club.

This week, Bury Council planning officers granted permission for the development after no-one formally objected to the proposal during a month-long consultation process.

The school's chairman of governors, Cllr Mary Whitby, said: "It is really positive news for everyone associated with the school.

"The new nursery will enhance the provision at Mersey Drive and it will be a huge boost for parents and the children."

The new building, which could be in place and open in time for the new academic year in September, will employ 12 people and will be able to care for up to 35 children aged five and under.

It will be open from 8am to 6pm on weekdays.

A report from Toddlers Pre-School Learned Ltd to the council said: "It is a proposal supported by Bury Council's education department, which would lease the land to us."

Mrs Whitby added: "The new facility will help a number of staff who have young children and will help parents of pupils whose working hours are flexible.

"They will be able to drop their children off earlier than now and collect them later around their working hours.

"This is a true community facility and I am pleased that we will soon be able to offer these facilities for the youngest children."