An Oscar-winning author and illustrator has officially opened a new nursery.

The new 30-place nursery at the site of a primary school in an east Suffolk village has been unveiled.

Charlie Mackesy OBE - who won an Oscar last year for best animated short film for The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, which was adapted from his hugely successful book of the same name - has opened Holton St Peter Primary School's nursery.

He visited children at the school near Halesworth after Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk Council worked together to use a community infrastructure levy to expand the school offering to include children aged two and three.

Now known as Sparkles Nursery, and named after the headteacher Christine Starkl, the new nursery will also be run by the ASSET Education Trust.

Ms Starkl said: "I am over the moon.

"I started working as headteacher in September 2017, starting a very small nursery at Holton in September 2018 when my vision began.

"It was my dream and vision to have a purpose-built nursery.

Eastern Daily Press: Holton St Peter Primary headteacher Christine Starkl said her 'dream had come true' with being able to open the new Sparkles Nursery. Picture: ConcertusHolton St Peter Primary headteacher Christine Starkl said her 'dream had come true' with being able to open the new Sparkles Nursery. Picture: Concertus (Image: Concertus)

"My dream has now come true."

The main contractor for the scheme, Brooks and Wood, worked with Concertus Design and Property Consultants to provide the new facilities that includes an office, a kitchen, quiet room and a classroom which leads to additional outdoor learning space with planting beds and climbing plants.

With a time capsule buried to mark the milestone opening of the new building, a Suffolk County Council spokesman said: "Suffolk County Council are pleased to have been able to work with East Suffolk District Council to secure funding from local housing development to fund this new purpose-built nursery at Holton St Peter."

Kay Yule, East Suffolk council's cabinet member for planning and coastal management, said: "East Suffolk is delighted to have supported and funded the delivery of this new nursery school, which has been 100 per cent funded through the allocation up to £1,030,042 of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)."