WORK has begun to turn redundant farm buildings into a children's day nursery at Clive's Fruit Farm, near Upton.

A former piggery is being converted with the help of a grant from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), under the Rural Development Scheme.

Owner Charles Clive said he hoped hoped the nursery would open in September and eventually provide places for up to 40 children and jobs for 10 people.

The long-awaited nursery received planning permission in January after previous plans to turn Upton's Old Fire Station into a nursery had failed.

Permission was subject to an agreement that the building would not be used for anything other than a nursery, which led to further delays.

"We're pleased to have got the grant and to have started work at last," said Mr Clive.

"We've already received some completed applications for places and we'll be advertising for staff."