ONE of London's largest day nursery providers, which is based in Mortlake, has completed a new financing package worth £5.7 million.

Happy Times, which already runs a nursery in Richmond, believes this will enable it to open even more centres across London, and has plans afoot to open up in Hampton, Twickenham and Barnes.

The firm already caters for more than 450 children and sums up its ethos as offering only the very best childcare, including large, state-of-the art centres and a committed and highly-motivated team of carers, together with a well-thought out programme for parents incorporating events, advice and products to support the whole family.

Adam Shaw and his wife Elizabeth founded the company in 1997, themselves concerned to provide their first son with the best start in life.

Adam commented: "I am delighted that we are now able to move forward and provide other families with the same high standards in childcare that we insisted upon for our own sons.

"I am proud of our team for their professionalism, sense of fun and for the incredible care they offer to the children - it is precisely these three ingredients that have built our reputation and have given our new investors the confidence to work with us on future expansion plans."

Justine Peters, mother of Max, aged 18 months, who attends Happy Times, commented: "I have no doubt that the announcement of Happy Times' expansion plans will cause a great stir in the capital as parents are anxious to find the very best day care for their little ones and are desperate to find more first-rate childcare facilities like those already on offer at Happy Times, Richmond, on their own doorstep."