Uplands Playgroup is celebrating its fiftieth birthday this year by getting children to learn about toys they might have played with in the sixties and seventies.

The playgroup, which was started by a group of mums in Uplands in 1968, will also be holding a Thanksgiving service at All Saints Church at 9.30am on Sunday, June 3.

Three of the founding members still live in Uplands, and it remains a charity playgroup that relies on fundraising.

Working with Uplands School means the playgroup has been key in the easy transition of Early Years children into all school settings.

It was moved to the school site in 1984 into a temporary Elliot Building.

The playgroup has recently raised £43,000 to completely renovate the original building and also fundraised to create an exciting play area for the children.

Lynsey Kelleher, who chairs the playgroup, is appealing to anyone that has a history with the playgroup to attend their service and to share any old photos.

“The playgroup has enjoyed a very popular fifty years with many hundreds of local families passing through our doors,” she said.

“We employ apprentices in Early Years and our latest having just completed a Level 3 qualification - as a child that once attended the playgroup herself!

“We have a thriving toddler group on a Friday afternoon that welcomes children and their carers and has become an important hub for the parents in our community.”