TWO privately-run nursery schools in the Ribble Valley have been given the green light to increase pupil numbers.

Tiddlers and Toddlers, in West View, Clitheroe, has been granted permission to build a single storey extension and to increase its pupil intake from 35 to 40, while Pendle View Nursery, in Lovely Hall Lane, Copster Green, will now be allowed to have up to 30 children at one time.

Ribble Valley Borough Council's planning and development committee agreed to the Clitheroe scheme despite objections from residents, who said the move would bring an increase in traffic which would become "a significant danger to staff, parents and toddlers at the nursery as well as to schoolchildren who use the route.

A report from the county surveyor said: "The scheme would lead to small increase in the amount of traffic.

"However, I don't consider that this will be seriously detrimental to safety and note there have been no accidents along West View in the last five years."

But Clitheroe councillor Alan Yearing said the proposal was a question of highway safety. He added: "It is getting to a stage in the town where traffic is a big problem during school times."

Concerns over traffic increase were also raised over the Pendle View Nursery application. Wilpshire councillor Chris Holtom said earlier proposals from the nursery had raised concerns from officers and residents over vehicles using the area to pick up and drop off pupils.

But Billington councillor Graham Sowter said the traffic problems were "exaggerated" and that children were being dropped off at different times of the day. Owner Mike Melville said he needed to increase pupil numbers as Ofsted had recommended a certain number of children should be taken in each age group.

Last month Lancashire County Council announced plans to replace the 65-place Bright Street Nursery in Clitheroe with a family support centre from next summer. The nursery will shut as part of the council's sweeping plans to overhaul and modernise the way Social Services delivers services to children and families.

County Coun Chris Cheetham said the new service would work seven days a week, for longer hours and with a wider range of children in a bid to tackle problems experienced by families.

He said that between now and next summer the county would be asking parents to try and find alternative provision for those attending the nursery.

He added that in the future more social services day nurseries throughout the country will close as they are gradually phased out in favour of family support centres.