Families have welcomed plans to move a Lincoln Sure Start Centre closer to the heart of their community.

Currently the facility is based alongside the Moorland Infant School, in Westwick Drive.

But with the school set to be closed and pupils moved to the main Priory Witham Academy site, a mile away in Shannon Avenue, in September 2011, the decision has been made for services to follow the children and build a new "state-of-the-art" facility.

Laura Clarricoates, 29, a full-time mum from Moorland Avenue, said she thought the move would lead more people to take up the courses on offer and bring their kids along.

"I'm looking forward to it," she said.

"It is going to mean that it is more lore local for more people.

"It's currently on the edge of the Moorland area, but people will think it's closer at the new location and go to it."

Dot McRae, executive headteacher for the Priory Witham Academy, said it was "an exciting opportunity to provide services to support children, young people and families".

"Sure Start is attached to the Moorland school and if we leave then it would be left in isolation," she said.

"By taking it with us it means the services we provide will be in a very prominent position, and we can offer better facilities for the children.

"For example, at the moment, we only have a very small kitchen, but when we move we are going to have a new, large, fully equipped training kitchen.

"And outside we will have much improved play facilities.

"Plus all the services we currently run through Sure Start in the Moorland community will continue."