CHILDCARE facilities on one of Trowbridge's largest housing estates have been given a major boost with a £280,000 injection of Lottery cash.

Studley Green Primary School is celebrating a cash windfall which will part-fund a £500,000 on-site nursery, due to open next April.

The 50-place nursery will include a 12-place baby unit and an outdoor play area with an undercover shelter.

Headteacher Steve Wigley said he was "over the moon" at the Lottery grant, as the school were given less than a month to get their detailed bid together.

He said the nursery would transform the lives of families living on the estate and hopes builders will move in by September 1.

"The impact it should have will be major," he said. "It will give parents the chance to get back to work. They will be able to access affordable childcare five days a week and 50 weeks a year.

"We were asked last minute to put in a bid you can't look a gift horse in the mouth.

"They wanted architect drawings. It was a bit of a rush as we were asked in mid-November and the application had to be in by December.

"In years to come I hope that we can develop an inclusive one-stop shop providing services to help families and children."

The Wiltshire Early Years Development Childcare Partnership is among other sources of finance providing cash to help the school reach their £500,000 target.

Ward councillor Bob Brice said the money was "overwhelming".

"They have recognised the challenges on the estate this money will help things along. We have been struggling to find the funding. It will change some people's lives," he said.

The £280,192 grant was awarded by the largest of Lottery distributors, the New Opportunities Fund, as part of a £1.18m input into nursery care facilities for the south west.

The nursery planned for Studley Green is one of nine created by the latest round of grants in the region, including a 50-place nursery in Chippenham.

New Opportunities Fund chairman Baroness Jill Pitkeathley said: "The grants demonstrate the Fund's continuing commitment to backing community-led, quality nursery provision which directly benefits children and their families."

Kate Slater, regional manager of the fund's south west region, said the grants would change the face of childcare.