New nursery for 'threatened' school

The school was thrown a lifeline by the government

A Herefordshire school, which was threatened with closure last year, is to open a new childcare centre.

St Mary's of Hope School, formerly known as Hope Under Dinmore Primary, is the smallest school in the county with just 22 pupils.

Herefordshire Council wanted to close the school last year, but the government stepped in to save it.

Since then, the school has secured more than £30,000 to develop the Happy Days childcare centre.

'Smashing school'

Head teacher Gail Richards told BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester the school had come a long way.

She said: "There's a buzz now, we're really going for it.

"We've made lots of internal improvements, we've got a computer room - we are way into the next century. The whole atmosphere has changed."

She added: "We closed Hope Under Dinmore and we have re-opened St Marys. I have always believed in this school - it's a smashing little school and it doesn't deserve to go."

Happy Days will initially take on eight children, but staff hope it will eventually lead to more children enrolling at the school.