A NURSERY has hit the jackpot after scooping £67,000 towards the cost of its expansion.

And the cash windfall will also allow the Mary Kelly's Rascals to nearly double the number of child placements.

The nursery, in Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, has been awarded the £67,000 by lottery distributors the New Opportunities Fund.

The grants come from the fund's building neighbourhood nurseries programme to create quality nursery care for young children.

Owner Mrs Frances Rivers, who also runs Bankhouse Nursery in the town, said: "We want to create not only new childcare places but good quality and affordable places in disadvantaged areas of the community."

The money will also provide a significant boost to the Rascals' £180,000 planned extension which will almost double the size of the existing nursery. Mrs Rivers added: "Mary Kelly's Rascals opened in 1989 and we're in an old building. It really needs to be upgraded. We hope to start the extension work in March and it's looking like a September opening."

Currently, the nursery caters for 36 children aged up to five, and combines recreation with education. The grant and the extension will allow Rascals to create a further 34 childcare places.

Mrs Rivers said: "I was over the moon to receive the £67,000 grant which will be geared towards the £180,000 cost of the extension. It all helps."

The nursery is named after Mary Kelly, Mrs Rivers' former business partner, who was killed in a road accident 13 years ago.