A CHILDCARE business in Bradford on Avon has celebrated its 10th anniversary with a party for 50 children, parents and 25 staff.

Leigh Cottage Childcare opened in 2007 and has helped to give just under 800 children a pre-school education before they go on to local primary schools.

The pre-school centre celebrated by throwing a birthday bash with activities, party games and helium balloons.

David Waldren of the new Cake Architect shop in Bradford on Avon, baked a cake for the special occasion.

Owner/manager Kate Eastwood said: “We had a fantastic day and the celebration went really well.

“We combined our birthday with our annual Charity Day to raise £600 for the Royal United Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Bath.

“We organised party games and activities for the 50 children who attended, including a cake sale, games such as ‘Guess the Weight of the Baby’ and ‘How many Jelly Babies in the Jar’.

“All the staff dressed up in their pyjamas, the children put on fancy dress and the parents brought in cakes and organised a raffle.

“We ordered a fabulous cake from The Cake Architect, a new shop just opening in Bradford-on-Avon, and filled our dining room with lots of big helium balloons.”

Kate, a qualified primary school teacher, started Leigh Cottage Childcare with her husband, David Eastwood, after working at the Westwood Nursery School.

The centre serves children from Bradford on Avon and 16 nearby towns and villages.

“I realised there was a big need for more day care. At Leigh Cottage we have tried to create ‘a home from home’ environment", said Mrs Eastwood.

Over the past ten years, Leigh Cottage Childcare has achieved three Outstanding Ofsted Reports for the quality of the education and care it provides for young children.