A new Chippenham nursery due to open this month has filled half its places already after an open day last week.

The former Dutch Cottage tearoom in St Mary Street now has a doll’s house in the window, having been transformed inside into a nursery for children aged three months to four years.

Snowdrop Cottage held its open day on Thursday and was due to be registered by Ofsted on Monday. The managers, who both have babies of their own, plan to be open mid-June.

The newly decorated rooms are specially kitted out for miniature people, with teeny tea sets, a play kitchen, train set and plenty of story books. In the back garden there is wooden play equipment and a den with port holes.

Nursery manager Hannah Gayles, 26, of Colerne, said they plan to start up a little allotment for the toddlers.

She said: “It’s very exciting to see it come together and the garden is a really big bonus for us.”

Fellow manager Amy Street, 27, of Charter Road, Chippenham, said: “It has been a steady stream of people throughout the day, despite the heavy rain, and we’ve filled about half of our 21 places.

“We want to really get to know the parents.”

Mrs Street has Early Years Professional status, equivalent to qualified teacher status for under-fives.

She is the daughter of Rob Perks, president of Chippenham Chamber of Commerce, who ran the tearoom in the same building but closed it because of falling trade and high car park prices.

For more details, call (01249) 465993.