New nursery opens in former 'Dickie Pinks' social club

Fairy Bridge Day Nursery in Tunnel Street opened its doors to little ones in September, run by Burnley woman Catherine Stansfield (32).

To many residents in the town the building will be fondly remebered as the Whittlefield Conservative Club, a snooker hall and as Dickie Pinks social club, named after a man named Richard who would sell the 'Pink' sports newspaper outside.

Catherine, who has worked in several nurseries before starting her own venture, said: "It took a while for us to get planning permission but we have renovated the building which had been empty for a few years.

"The building originally opened 100 years ago in 1920 and has a lot of history. For 100 years it has served the local community as a social and drinking establishment but is now serving the younger generation up to school age.

"It is in an ideal position for people who are either working in Burnley or going out of Burnley with the motorway link at Gannow Top and also the growing estates locally. It is proving to be quite popular."

The nursery, which caters from birth to school age, currently has 16 children and has three staff.