HAPPY Jays are here thanks to York-based Guildford Construction.

The expanding construction firm has won the £330,000 contract to build the Happy Jays nursery on the latest phase of the Lancaster Park development scheme at Clifton Moor.

The 18-week building programme will allow Jacqui and Tony Gernon who own a 35-place Happy Jays in Boroughbridge to open this second venture, a new 68-place, 4,350 sq ft unit by September.

Already there has been huge demand building up on the estate for the development's two baby rooms, two "tweeny" rooms and pre-school rooms for children aged from three months to five years, with 12 places pre-booked before the first brick has been laid.

Guildford Construction is now negotiating to work on the remaining space at the Clifton

Moor development with The Evans Property Group, the Leeds

property investment and

development company.