A children's nursery is hoping to splash out thousands of pounds on new sports and leisure facilities.

Buckets and Spades Day Nursery wants to build a recreational base, including a swimming pool, behind its property in Low Road, Dovercourt.

Nursery owner Mary Piper said the project was expected to cost just under £100,000 and would be a huge improvement to the centre.

She explained the ground floor would house a small swimming pool and the upper floor could be used for music education.

"There are guidelines which suggest children should get involved with leisure education from an early age, and as a nursery school we feel we could teach them to swim in physical education sessions," said Mrs Piper.

"We would have qualified instructors as there are very stringent rules that we have to stick to. It would just be a fantastic opportunity for helping kids develop.

"Sometimes it's hard for parents who are working full time to be able to fit in things like swimming lessons, and if we can help the children learn to swim after school it would be great."

The swimming pool would be 4ft deep and about 20ftx12ft in size.

Published Friday November 1, 2002

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