A nursery has expanded with two new rooms and a climbing frame in East Bergholt.

East Bergholt Young Explorers at Cherry Blossom Children's Centre in Hadleigh Road can now take 30 more children, bringing its total number of spaces to 60.

The charity, which is part of Constable County Childcare, has expanded with separate baby and two-year-old rooms following a move last year to close and repurpose some children centres in Suffolk.

East Anglian Daily Times: Hayley Aherne, manager at East Bergholt Young ExplorersHayley Aherne, manager at East Bergholt Young Explorers (Image: Constable Country Childcare)

The East Bergholt Young Explorers was open during most of this time during the redevelopment and manager Hayley Aherne said it could be a little "challenging" at times to work around the building work.

There is still a children's centre on the site but with a smaller space for its service, which has been taken over by East Bergholt Young Explorers.

"We're the first to start actually get up and running so it's quite exciting," Mrs Aherne said. "We've also had to hire more staff."

East Anglian Daily Times: One of the new rooms at East Bergholt Young ExplorersOne of the new rooms at East Bergholt Young Explorers (Image: Constable Country Childcare)

A total of 17 staff made up of office and childcare staff now work with the kids from East Bergholt, Manningtree and surrounding villages.

"There's been really good feedback," she added. "And parents are really pleased with the more places as we were at the point to turn people away."

East Anglian Daily Times: Early years teacher Jen, with authors Jules and Kayleigh Bond at East Bergholt Young ExplorersEarly years teacher Jen, with authors Jules and Kayleigh Bond at East Bergholt Young Explorers (Image: Constable Country Childcare)

To celebrate, Mrs Aherne invited Jules and Kayleigh Bond, authors of the Adventures of Rory & Friends, on Monday, June 7 to officially open the nursery with the 30 new spaces.

The married Devon couple were inspired by their child who has a facial birthmark like Rory the Raccoon to create the series. and manager Mrs Aherne hoped it would educate the children that people can be different sometimes.

East Anglian Daily Times: The East Bergholt Young Explorers climbing frameThe East Bergholt Young Explorers climbing frame (Image: Constable Country Childcare)

The kids really "enjoyed" the day and also had some sports day races in the evening.

"It been a lot of work and all the team and myself can say it's been a lovely space to work," she added. "There is lots of outside space and now the time has come for us to use it."

For more see brantham-childcare.co.uk.