HUNDREDS of nursery places will be created across the North thanks to a £450,000 National Lottery grant.

In Darlington, the Firthmoor and District Community Association has won £97,032 to create 52 nursery places at a community centre being built in the Eastbourne South ward.

Skelton Junior School, in east Cleveland, will build a £148,180 nursery for 34 children. Built next to the school, it aims to be open by September.

A further 35 places for youngsters aged up to four will be created in Hylton, Sunderland, at Blue Square Trading.

Hawks Road Community Nursery, in Gateshead, known as Tik Tok, found out yesterday that it was successful in a bid for £100,000.

The cash will go towards a purpose-built centre on a brownfield site, to accommodate 130 youngsters.

John Eversley, chairman of Tik Tok, said: "We are thrilled to obtain this grant from the fund, because it will enable us to proceed with ambitious plans to more than double the size of the present nursery."

Heaton Nursery School, in Newcastle, won £16,200 to create nine more nursery places at its school.