AUTHOR and storyteller Neil Griffiths cut the ribbon on a new children’s centre in North Swindon yesterday.

The children’s author and former headteacher was in town to officially open Butterflies Children’s Centre, in Abbey Meads Primary School, and the event attracted crowds of parents and children.

The centre, which opened a satellite building at nearby Catherine Wayte Primary School at the beginning of the year, has now moved into its new facility.

It is the 14th centre of its kind to open in the town and offers a one-stop shop providing advice, support, learning and play activities for parents and carers with children aged five and under.

Yesterday, a celebration afternoon was held, with fun activities and stalls.

Mother Jennifer Hanselman, from Abbey Meads, took her two daughters, six-year-old Ruth and Alice, two, to the opening event.

She said: “The centre is great, We always have lots of fun when we go to Butterflies.

“We go to the Stay ‘n’ Play sessions and they have some great half-term fun activities for the older children as well, we went to the Teddy Bears’ Picnic earlier this week which was brilliant.

“The new centre is really nice, really family friendly. It is a great place to do a lot of networking for the children and the parents.

“In North Swindon a lot of people aren’t actually from the town so it’s a good meeting point.”

As Neil cut the ribbon on the centre, he spoke of his delight at being asked to open the centre.

“When I was asked to do this I just knew what a privilege it would be,” he said.

“As an ex-headteacher, my life has always been children so I couldn’t think of a nicer thing to be asked to open than a children’s centre.

“I wish the centre every success in supporting families over the years to come.”

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson was on hand with Coun David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick) to help cut the ribbon. He said: “It is brilliant to see so many parents and children descend on this much needed facility, it is a real good news story for the north sector.”

Butterflies covers areas of North Swindon served by Abbey Meads, Catherine Wayte, Bridlewood, Red Oaks, Oakhurst, Orchid Vale and St Francis Primary Schools and Brimble Hill Special School.

Visit www.abbeymeads.

swindon.sch.uk.