TWO Sure Start initiatives in Hartlepool have earned accolades for the quality of their services.

Funded by the Government, the Sure Start North and South initiatives aim to ensure pre-school youngsters get the best start to life in terms of health, ability to learn and social and emotional development.

Sure Start staff work with parents to give them help, advice and training in areas such as diet and parenting.

At a ceremony in London, both schemes won accolades in the Partners in Excellence Awards.

The awards were organised by national childcare charity The Daycare Trust, in association with the national Sure Start scheme, and were presented by Cherie Blair.

Hartlepool's Sure Start North and South programmes shared the award for Promoting Children's Wellbeing.

The Sure Start South programme also gained the award for Supporting Parents' Next Steps.

Jeremy Fitt, Hartlepool Borough Council's director of education, said: "This is tremendous news. Hartlepool's Sure Start initiatives are playing a key role in helping pre-school youngsters get the best possible start in life and giving important support to mums and dads."