THE new Rosedale Abbey Primary School nursery has been officially opened by Ryedale councillor Janet Frank.

Headteacher Nicola Johnson said thank you to everybody who came to help celebrate the opening.

She said: "It was lovely to see so many friends of the school come to share our day."

The nursery was due to be opened by Baroness Anne McIntosh, but she broke her wrist in London and was unable to attend. Natalie Roberts, governor at the school, said: "Councillor Janet Frank very kindly stepped in at the last minute to do the honours for which we were very grateful."

Coun Frank talked about the importance of rural community schools and nursery provision and said she was "thrilled to stand in to open the fantastic nursery facility at Rosedale Abbey".

Ms Johnson added: "We have a fabulous Early Years’ resource here at Rosedale School, in a truly wonderful setting. We are an outward-looking community school, with great children and superb staff. We share the belief that it takes a village to raise a child and are happy to belong to the village school community."