A new nursery is to open in Oxford's Blackbird Leys estate providing 20 extra childcare places for the city.

The Imagine Co-operative Childcare nursery, based at the Cuddesdon Corner Family Centre, opens on Monday.

It was added to the family centre during a £360,000 refurbishment funded by Oxfordshire County Council and the Department for Education and Skills, in partnership with the Midcounties Co-operative and local voluntary groups.

The nursery will offer 20 places for children aged two to five and will provide out-of-school-hours care and a breakfast club.

It will complement the existing Imagine nursery, in Cuddesdon Way, which offers 54 places, and has been open for 12 years.

Louise Chapman, the county council's cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: "The new nursery means that parents will have more choice when it comes to flexible and high quality childcare."

The downstairs of the family centre has been converted to include the Imagine nursery, a kitchen and toilets.

Upstairs there are multi-purpose rooms and a new training room which will be used to run courses for residents and practitioners. Childcare will be available for parents attending courses.

Jenny Martin, acting manager of the family centre, said: "Part of the county council's ethos is to join up services for local families and we were delighted to work with Imagine, because they're an established, reputable childcare provider."

Jane Long, neighbourhood nursery manager for Imagine Co-operative Childcare, said: "Having spent many years getting to know local families, we feel very much part of the community here.

"We're pleased to be providing affordable childcare to help parents whether they are working or studying. It's an attractive nursery area that's warm and welcoming."

To find out about reserving a place in the nursery, call Jane Long on 01865 550837.