A WINWICK man is nearing the end of his bid to rescue part of the village's heritage and renovate a disused Catholic church.

Paul Wright, owner of PD Fleet Services Ltd, has spent the past few months working on rejuvenating the church at the former Winwick Hospital site, and in just a few weeks' time he will be joining in the celebrations at the official opening.

The grade two listed building will be turned into Safe Hands Children's Day Nursery and will cater for 88 youngsters and babies.

Paul is hoping to invite Guardian mascot Scoopy the Cat and Warrington Wolves mascot Wolfie to the open weekend, to entertain the children while their parents look at the nursery's facilities.

Paul said: "This project has been a great chance to put something back into the local community and it's nice to keep some of Winwick's history alive.

"We've already got about 40 children on the waiting list for when we open, but everyone is welcome to attend the open weekend next month.

"Where possible, we're hoping that the facilities outside will prove to be useful for the children and somewhere they can breathe clean air."

Most of the church's existing features, such as the pews and part of the altar, have been incorporated into the final design and the project has created jobs for 22 nursery staff as well as a cook and a cleaner.

Paul has the backing of Ofsted officials, the Heritage Committee and the borough council's planning department, as the nursery will help to preserve the church building after the loss of the area's hospital and water tower.

Paul has received the go-ahead from planning officials to build a 20-space car park, and he is also hoping to create an after school club in the nursery's grounds.

Debbie Wright, director of Safe Hands, said: "I am very excited about the opening of the nursery, being a mother-of-three myself.

"I can't wait to take up my position and help provide educational and health care for youngsters up to school age."