NURSERY children were enthralled as they welcomed baby chicks into the world.

The Busy Bees Nursery, at Pipers Way, was looking after some eggs on loan from a nearby farm as they hatched. The youngsters will now spend time with the chicks, learning to look after them.

Nursery manager Rachel Payne said: “We had 10 eggs that arrived on Monday. They started hatching on Tuesday and within just 36 hours all the chicks were born successfully, which was a relief.

“It was great watching the children’s faces and they were all so excited to see the process of the eggs hatching. There was a mixed response as the chicks emerged as some weren’t too impressed with the gory side of it but most thought it was fantastic.”

The unborn chicks were kept in an incubator and have now been moved to a larger heated tank where they are free to move about.

“All of the children are now getting the chance to hold the chicks which is brilliant.

“They are absolutely loving it. Their faces are transfixed when they see the chicks try and flap their little wings.”

This is not the first time the nursery has looked after eggs.

“We have the eggs every year and it is always great fun. They spent last week in the corridor but now they are born they will move into the classrooms so each of the children can spend some time with them,” said Rachel.

“It’s been a huge success so we’ll be certainly looking to do the same thing again next year.”

As well as entertaining the children, the hatching of the eggs have been used as a way of educating them in a variety of lessons.

“We have children who are as young as a few weeks old up to four years so they all take something from it.

“We are able to teach the children about growth and change so it is a really good learning tool.

“The older children especially gain lots from learning about handling to the importance of taking care of something.”