Children dressed as bugs and celebrated the grand opening of Cleator Moor Nursery’s “hotel” for creepy crawlies.

Children at the nursery have been learning all about autumn wildlife in class and gardener Steven Parry has been busy creating the mini-hotel over the summer holidays.

Materials for the facility were donated by Cleator Moor resident Alan Goulding through his work at Travis Perkins, and it was his four-year-old daughter Abby who “cut the ribbon” for the new facility.

The “ribbon” however, was in fact a spiderweb and Abby crawled through the tangled web to mark the opening.

Parents, staff and children gathered around for the ceremony and, afterwards, pupils enjoyed chocolate spider and danced in an ugly bug ball.

Headteacher, Lisa Wilson said the children have been learning about hibernation and what happens in the natural world during autumn.

She said: “We are teaching the children about wildlife and nature as part of their curriculum.

"This helps really helps to bring it to life. We even have a hedgehog who has made his home underneath the bug hotel!”

The children were also visited by Norah’s Ark last week as part of their autumn wildlife topic.

The company brought in pygmy hedgehogs, rabbits and a tortoise along with many other animals.

Staff talked to children about why the animals behave the way they do and also gave advice on how to look them.

For more information about the nursery, call 01946 811189.