DEPUTY prime minister John Prescott has stepped into a Hampshire village's planning row - to give the go-ahead to a scheme to build a new nursery.

The planning row over whether a Yellow Dot nursery should be built next to North Baddesley's village hall had been rumbling on for more than a year. Owner Jane Dyke said she was "absolutely delighted" at the decision.

The application, to build a new 60-place nursery, was thrown out by Test Valley south's planning committee last year because it encroached on countryside.

A new proposal, with space for 52 children, suffered the same fate. But Test Valley planning bosses referred it to John Prescott for a final verdict.

This week, it was revealed that the scheme had been given the go-ahead.

Mrs Dyke said: "I am absolutely delighted at the outcome. We have waited a long time for this and are very excited about providing childcare for the parish of North Baddesley."

Builders are likely to move onto the site next month, and the first children will be welcomed into the new facility in January 2006. The centre, due to open from 7.45am until 6pm, will provide childcare for children aged from four months to four years.