A TIME capsule planted in the garden of the Hillbillies Playgroup has been dug up to save it from being lost or damaged during the rebuilding of Upton Hill Centre.

It will be ceremonially replaced with new, up-to-date material, when building work is complete.

Two of the children who were there when the capsule was buried in 1996 were invited back to see it opened on Wednesday.

"It was a child's flask, containing paintings made by the children," said deputy supervisor Sarah Loader. "We're going to take photographs as the old building is knocked down and rebuilt and then, when we move back, we will plant another capsule alongside this one.

"We will put in drawings by the children who are here now, along with the photographs."

The Hillbillies are due to move out of the centre today (Friday) for the half-term holiday and are expecting to be based at The Glebe, Welland, for the rest of this year.

The contract for the building work has not yet been finalised but there are still hopes of starting work next month.