A HILPERTON couple who will run the new children’s play centre in the town centre say they cannot wait to get started.

Barry and Lucy Coombs, 37 and 31, had their application to turn the old QS extra store, Silver Street, into Baloo’s, approved in April.

Together they had tried to start this enterprise several years ago, but it was only in January when landlord Russell Dunleavey got behind their plans and agreed a lease with them.

The couple, of Hutton Close, hope the centre, complete with slides, tunnels, a sensory room, party rooms, baby, toddler and junior area, will be open by October.

“We are very excited about this,” said Mr Coombs,

“We wanted to do something where we could be together in a venture. We have put our savings into this and our family has helped there too.

“Our kids Jasper and Summer helped with the name. Summer calls me ‘Ba’ and Lucy’s family call her Loo - so we went for Baloo’s.”