A BURY-based social services day nursery has closed as the local authority ushers in a new era in family support services.

Nursery provision is undergoing a major shake-up to improve services and meet Government criteria.

The objective is to enable nurseries to provide more flexible support for vulnerable families and children with special needs.

The first stage in this process has involved the closure of the Castlecroft Day Nursery.

Staff and social services case children are now being catered for at a smaller site.

And the £150,000 expected to be generated from the sale of the nursery in Castlecroft Road will be ploughed back into family support services.