TOTS and toddlers at Radcliffe's United Playgroup enjoyed a first-class trip to Australia.

The journey of imagination was part of the celebrations for the 30th birthday of the playgroup which is held three days a week at Radcliffe United Reformed Church.

Founder and owner Elizabeth Murray, known to her young charges as "Auntie Betty", was 30 when she started the playgroup and during that time she has become a well-loved figure to hundreds of the town's children.

"I even taught some of the present children's parents when they were little," she said.

Friday's (Jan 24) birthday party had an Australian theme as it was Australia Day on Saturday (Jan 25).

"We'd been studying Australia as part of the curriculum so it seemed like a good idea." said Mrs Murray.

The children boarded a "plane" wearing T-shirts, shorts and sunglasses and "flew" to Australia where they enjoyed a beach barbecue of sausages and beans.

"We showed them boomerangs and I even played them my didgeridoo," said Mrs Murray who is assisted by Shirley Parker and Dilys Cunliffe who, like her, have been there since the beginning. Another assistant, Brenda Wood, took over when her mother, original staff member Mattie Morris, retired 15 years ago.

"The parents presented us with engraved photograph frames and flowers, which was very kind of them."

By lunchtime it was time to leave Australia and return to cold and blustery Radcliffe, but it was certainly a birthday party to remember!