NI Communities Minister Margaret Ritchie has officially opened a newly built childcare facility in the Ballee area of Ballymena.

The Minister said: "The new building will provide excellent facilities for the pre-school playgroup and after-schools club which are run by the local community.

"I am pleased that by working with the local community, my Department has been able to make this project happen. I think it provides the clearest possible demonstration of the real benefits that our support for communities like Ballee can deliver."

The childcare project cost £825,000 to build.

Over £242,000 of this was provided by the Department for Social Development, with the remainder being provided by the Big Lottery Fund, Ballymena Borough Council and the local community.

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The new building is named after Margaret McKeown, a resident of Ballee who has been at the forefront of work with children and young people in the community for over 30 years.

Mrs McKeown said: "Every child has the right to play and learn in a stimulating, safe and caring environment.

"This project started out as a vision to create a building for the children from the local area and now, five years later, the dream has come true.

"It is a heart-warming pleasure to see children enjoy this state-of-the-art, modern complex and I feel honoured to have been part of this creation and legacy for the future.

"I am both delighted and honoured that my committee has decided to bestow such an honour on me as naming the Ballee Childcare Building after me."

Maurice Mills, Mayor of Ballymena, welcomed the project.

Mr Mills said: "I am delighted this project has come to such a fruitful conclusion.

"The childcare facilities now offered here in the Margaret McKeown Building are state of the art, and I know will be fully welcomed by the local community who have been looking forward to this facility for some time.

"Ballymena Borough Council is proud to have been able to support the project management of this development, and look forward to seeing it actively used by Ballymena's next generation."

(PR/JM)