Ten years of battling paid off today when Crosscanonby St John's School nursery opened.

James Newcome, the Bishop of Carlisle, cut the ribbon that symbolised a step forward for the whole community according to head teacher, Steve Mitchelhill.

Mr Mitchelhill, who will be retiring in December, said he felt he was now leaving with one ambition fulfilled.

He said: "We have wanted a nursery here for 10 years. But in those days of falling rolls and uncertain futures, the nursery had no support. Now, thanks to changed policies, we have it."

He said at a time when villages are losing facilities, this was "a kick in the other direction" for Crosby and the surrounding area.

The bishop took part in an act of collective worship where children did a PowerPoint presentation. It showed how, in another kind of nursery, seeds were sown and grew into plants and how that could happen in another way in a children's nursery.