Parents will have to scan their fingerprints when they drop off and pick up children at The Ark Nursery.

The biometric system has been installed on the door of the nursery at Dean Hey Farm, Hebden Bridge, to increase security while also making access easier for mums, dads and other carers.

It also keeps a record of who has entered the premises.

The technology, created by Newcastle firm UK Biometrics, went live this week and has replaced a keypad entry system which asked parents and staff to enter a number code.

Now the nursery has registered the prints of parents and people they nominate to pick up children. They will be recognised when pressed on to a sensor pad unlocking the door.

Unregistered visitors have to phone the office and wait for a member of staff.

Owner Jo Brock, who founded The Ark with co-owner Jayne Heidi Bingham in 2002, said: "With our previous keypad security system it was easy to forget the code but you can't forget your finger, can you?

"We were also concerned the code could fall into the wrong hands.

"It has been very well received by all of the parents.

"Security is very important to us and we like to be ahead with innovations so when we heard about the system we decided to get it and make sure our safety is top notch." The Ark Nursery, which has more than 40 staff, cares for more than 200 children from babies to children aged four and 150 children aged up to 12 attend an out of school facility called Space @ the Ark.

Last October the Courier reported that Providence Day Nursery, Elland, was the first nursery in Calderdale to install the state-of-the-art security.

Paul Easton, from UK Biometrics, said use of the system in schools, nurseries and other childcare facilities is growing.

He said: "Security is obviously a huge concern for all parents."

Fingerprint entry is also used in homes, building sites, call centres and many other premises.