A NEW day care unit and infants' department was due to be officially opened today (Friday) at Madresfield Early Years Centre.

The day care unit, catering for children under three, was funded with the help of a £10,000 grant from Worcester-shire County Council, which wants to develop more than 2,500 new childcare places in the next three years.

Up to 40 after-school and holiday places have also been created at Madresfield with a £20,000 Lottery grant.

This has helped fund a new Millennium Barn extension to the Early Years Centre, providing two more classrooms - one containing a stage and theatre lighting - an art room, music room with tiered seating and cloakroom.

Owner Alice Bennett said: "The facilities are also used by community groups as we haven't got a village hall in Madresfield.

"The church choir comes here to rehearse and we're hoping to extend the programme of clubs for children. We already have a recorder group and are about to start an art club. We would like to have a little drama group as well."

The mayor and mayoress of Malvern, Coun David Williams and his wife Mo, were to be entertained at the official opening by the children with songs, poems and gymnastics.

As part of the plan to create more childcare places in the county, Worcestershire County Council needs to recruit 400 more people to work in day nurseries, pre-school playgroups, out-of-school and holiday clubs.

The recruitment campaign, Choices - Working in Childcare, is particularly aimed at people who have not previously considered such a career, including men and older people with experience of raising their own children.

A taster session for people interested in training and job opportunities will be held at Langland Community Centre, Baxters Walk, Malvern on Tuesday, January 16, from 9.30am to 12pm.