THE boss of a controversial private nursery who planned to sell part of the building just two years after a government funding windfall, says he may shelve the plan.

Crofters Park Nursery School was at the centre of controversy two years ago when it received £215,000 of taxpayers' money to expand in order to create 50 new child care places.

But in July 2004 managing director Michael Ruaux put part of its building in Gaskell Street, up for sale for £450,000 as the school had just 90 of its 166 places filled.

Now, Mr Ruaux says things are looking up for the nursery and it may not have to sell any assets.

He said: "I really feel it is unlikely I will sell any of the site. We have identified a number of different ways we can fill the empty spaces."

Mr Ruaux is planning on running a holiday club, breakfast club and after school club for youngsters of local schools and older siblings of nursery children. He is also planning to open the doors to non-private pupils, who are eligible to receive a government grant for free nursery care during term time, for two and-a-half hours a day.

Mr Ruaux also revealed that two other nurseries were planning to close and he was hopeful youngsters would transfer to Crofters Park but he would not disclose which nurseries would shut.

Mr Ruaux said technically part of the site was still on the market and was still on the books of an estate agent but they have not had any viewings.

He made the decision to put the building up for sale in the first place because Bolton Council have created far more nursery places than he had anticipated in the past two years.

Crofters Park is now entering its final year of the subsidy it received from the government grant.