AN AWARD winning nursery has started the new year with plans to extend its offering through the development of a new baby unit.

Puddleducks Nursery, in Sheriff Hutton, was founded in 2012 by primary teacher Sarah Kelly, and has seen work start on second phase development to furbish the first floor of its building.

The extension plans include a new baby room, doubling the nursery's capacity.

Ms Kelly said: "I opened the nursery in 2012, when phase one of our nursery build project was completed. This put us in a really good position, with the flexibility to expand upstairs when the nursery reached capacity.

"Our team has been starting to think about furniture and equipment for the room; it is such an exciting aspect of the project. We are a large family here at Puddleducks and everyone is involved in the planning of the new baby room; staff, parents and the children."

The nursery, which was awarded ‘Top Ten Recommended Day Nursery in Yorkshire’ in 2014, hopes to have the new facilities open and in use by the end of April.