A LANDMARK church building in Queensbury will be transformed into a new out-of-school club for the village.

West End Methodist Church, which closed in July 2013, has been bought by Shibden Head Day Nursery, marking an investment of more than £500,000.

The nursery will remain in its current location, in Halifax Road, where a smaller-scale out-of-school club currently runs.

Director Rue Wray said: “The facilities are going to be amazing. It’s just going to be somewhere for children to be able to access.

“At the moment, there’s nothing for primary school age children. We want children to be asking to come – our staff are so passionate about what they do and they want the best for the children.”

She added: “I’m really excited. It has been so long in the planning, I just can’t wait to get in there now.”

The renovated building will include an outdoor football pitch, as well as an arts and craft area, a library area. a homework area, a baking room and a gaming room,

“There’s going to be lots and lots,” Mrs Wray said. “We will develop it over the years and there will be new things.

“We have had to do a lot of work, but it will be amazing.”

The building will be open from 6.45am until 6.45pm and will cater for around 120 children.

Throughout the day there are plans for a mother and toddler group to run, as well as a tea and coffee morning for older people, and it will also open during the school holidays.

There will be space for groups and rooms will be available to rent out.

Andrew Senior, Conservative ward councillor for Queensbury, said he was pleased for the business.

“It’s a really good thing,” Cllr Senior said. “They are employing a lot of local people.”

It will officially open its doors on October 30, but there will be a fun day on November 11.

At the time of the building’s closure, senior steward David Coggan wrote: “The society at West End ceased to meet on July 7, 2013 – the first worship in the building was on July 7 1888. The building replaced the first on the site, which had opened some 70 years earlier.

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“The final weekend was made up of a Victorian act of worship on Saturday in the style of worship at the time of opening, and Holy Communion on the Sunday. A thanksgiving meal had been held on June 15. So ended the Methodist presence in Queensbury.

“A final Church Council with holy communion was held on July 17 2013 under the direction of Rev Christine Perry.”