A CENTRE for expectant mums and parents with young children is set to launch in Colchester.

Mum-of-two Kristy Kerry is the brains behind Love Laugh Learning, due to open within Fitness4less gym in Wyncolls Road, this September.

Kristy, 34, said she has realised her dream of teaching children but came up with the idea to share the venue with other groups to benefit the community.

Among the other groups to use the venue will be the Phoenix Midwives team from Colchester Hospital who will use it for hypnobirthing sessions for two evenings to a chosen group of women.

The team of eight midwives belong to a recently launched pilot scheme aimed at giving pregnant women better continuity of care, through antenatal, labour and post-natal.

The venue will also offer baby and toddler signing, phonics sessions, Jo Jingles music and movement classes, baby massage and first aid training.

And Kristy will run stay and play sessions and classes for three different under five age groups.

These classes, will involve signing, sensory play, games and singing.

The venue will also be available for children's parties and Kristy has allowed the Danielle's Photography business to use the space for a studio one afternoon a week.

Kristy persuaded husband Scott to put their savings into transforming it into her new business.

Kristy, from Colchester, said: "As far back as when I did my work experience in school, I did it in a school because I had this want and enjoyment of working with children.

"My mum was a learning support assistant in a school for 20 years.

"When I had my son, Jenson, in August 2012, it was just the making of me, starting a family and was quick to want to join in all these classes and make mummy friends."

After having her second child, Seren, Kristy started to feel Colchester still had something missing for parents like her.

She spotted a tired looking, unused room at the gym where she was a member and had a lightbulb moment.

Love Laugh Learning was born, by converting a tired, unused room at the gym.

Kristy said: "I am determined to bring a range of businesses and services together to make a safe, engaging supportive space for the local community with young families

"Love Laugh Learning isn’t just a new learning through play group where you can also have parties - it’s a centre for everyone in which we raise each other up. It’s not competition, it’s complementing each other for the greater good.

"With all the funding going and children’s centres closing, this is my way of still trying to offer that service. Love Life Learning will be a place to make friendships, ask advice or just escape to when some days are a struggle."