A NEW nursery at a church is taking shape.

A day-nursery building adjacent to St Peter’s Church, in Pinkerton Road, South Ham, is now being fitted out.

The building lies on land owned by the Basingstoke Parochial Church Council (PCC) and will house St Peter’s Day Nursery which will provide full daycare with up to 40 places for up to five-year olds from September.

The decision to create the nursery was taken by the PCC in response to the Hampshire County Council’s (HCC) identification of a need for a child care facility for the surrounding community.

Bob Lock, churchwarden at St Peter’s said “Having seen generations of families grow up in South Ham over the past 40 years, it’s really good to see a purpose-built day nursery arriving at last.

“It will allow children to grow together with others from their own community, as well as enabling parents to return to work knowing their children will be well cared for.”

The nursery will be operated by a local provider, Timbers and Lychpit Limited.