CHILDREN in Prudhoe are set to enjoy lots more fun and adventures as a local nursery provider has taken over the town’s soft play.

Di and Jim Richardson of Diandjims Childcare have been in the childcare business for 24 years, and currently run nurseries in Prudhoe and Hexham, as well as a holiday club and out-of-school club.

And as of the beginning of the month, they are now also the owners of Prudhoe’s popular soft play, the Fun Station.

In their short time there, they have already made some positive changes, including introducing a new espresso coffee machine – so far a hit with parents – and appointing a new member of the kitchen team and a new manager. Tables and chairs have been changed, flowers have been added to the tables and parents can now enjoy magazines and newspapers to read.

Jim said: “We are changing it around from being somewhere that parents bring their children to have fun, to a place they come and actually enjoy it too and instead of staying 15 minutes or half an hour, they are staying longer.”

In addition to soft play, children can now enjoy a crafts area, and Di and Jim have plans to introduce craft days as well as sessions during the week for parents of babies and smaller children through the day.

“For me it’s an expansion of the business, but also a great thing for children in the area. We’re right by the station so we have people coming on the train from all over the place,” said Jim.