A PLAYGROUP and out-of-school club is celebrating after building an extension to create extra space for the youngsters to have fun.

Horwich Parish Play Care held its official re-opening after the renovations with a special appearance from Dorothy Gatenby, who opened the original playgroup with her friend Maureen Cotton 33 years ago.

The playgroup was initially run by volunteers in Church Street with current manager Dorothy Bromley taking over more than 24 years ago.

Horwich Play Care was set up seven years ago to provide pre-school, after-school and holiday care for youngsters aged from two and a half to 11. The daytime playgroup remains as popular as ever and has been extended to create even closer links with the parish primary schools.

Mrs Bromley is helped by a team of 13 staff with up to 100 youngsters per day attending the pre-school, after-school and playgroup sessions.

Renovation work has included rewiring, plastering and creating more space for the children to play.

Mrs Bromley said: "The building is much more spacious and nicer for the staff and children.

"We struggled to find the funding, but it has been worth it and everyone has been looking forward to seeing the work finished."