THE refurbishment of a junior school to accommodate a children's centre has finished and the complex has formally been opened.

Nursery school children helped cut the ribbon on Blacon Children's Centre which will now house the Sure Start team at Blacon Hall Junior School, Carlisle Road.

City MP Christine Russell said it was a dream come true: 'We know from studies around the world that early intervention programmes like those that will be offered at children's centres have long-lasting benefits.

'How well children do at the age of five shapes how well they do at primary and then secondary school.

'In the past the lack of multi-agency working has led to some children, often the most vulnerable and the most at risk, being failed by our public services.

'Hopefully this will not happen in future as all the agencies responsible for the health, parenting support services for children should be together under one roof in the children's centre.'

The centre has been open since early September but the official launch last week saw dignitaries admire the artistic efforts of Blacon mum Louise Condon and her sister Katy. The pair co-ordinated parents and children to make a hand and foot frieze print tiles that decorate the front of the building.

Tracey French, an art teacher at Blacon High School, led a project involving all schools on the estate which produced canvases now hanging in the centre's entrance hall.

The Children's Centre houses: Midwifery services, which run from ante natal sessions to Breast feeding support; speech and language therapy; baby matters; a Toc H nursery; a Job Centre Plus; adult learner courses for parents with free crèche and a Sure Start service.