success after less than 18 months in business has led to plans for a £70,000 extension to an Upton nursery and the creation of six new jobs.

The owners of Little Blossoms Nursery have applied to Malvern Hills District Council for permission to add a classroom and conservatory to the nursery building.

The planned extension would enable the construction of a pre-school department for children aged between three and five.

The conservatory would allow any non-sleeping toddlers to continue afternoon activities without disrupting other groups.

The extension would also include a staff room away from the busy office and the children.

The nursery opened in October 2001 with four staff and 45 spaces for children aged between three months and school age.

Since then the demand has rocketed, with almost all spaces filled and 20 staff now on the books. Six more are to be added to look after babies and the younger children.

In March last year, the council awarded the nursery a Platinum Business Award as the best start up business.

The success of the nursery is good news for the owners, Jane and Charlie Clive, who also operate Clive's Fruit Farm.

"It's just taken off beyond all expectations," said Mrs Clive, head of the nursery. "We are still getting lots and lots of enquiries, all the parents seem very happy.

"We are just extremely pleased, we're able to provide the service to the community and I can't believe how successful it's been so far."

District council planning officers will examine the proposals before a decision is made in the coming weeks. If the application is successful, work is due to start in the spring or early summer and finish by September, at a cost of between £65,000 and £70,000.