MORE than 600 nursery school places could be created in the most deprived areas of County Durham.

Durham County Council is getting £3.7m from the Government's Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative, which aims to help people and groups set up nurseries in areas where provision is scarce or non-existent.

A total of £3,757,600 is being made available to the council for a three-year programme. It includes capital for new buildings, modernisation or refurbishment, and revenue to partly fund new places.

Officials hope the money will enable a big increase in the 1,395 places currently available.

County Durham's Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP) is coordinating local applications for funding.

The council - the local education authority - leads the group which is also made up of parents, the county's health authority, providers of nursery and childcare services, local businesses, voluntary organisations and district and borough councils.

Lynne Henderson, the council's programme coordinator for early years development, said: "Top-quality childcare is essential in giving children the best possible start to life.

"This new initiative will have a number of positive impacts on the more disadvantaged areas of the county."

The partnership is inviting those interested from the independent, voluntary, maintained and private nursery sectors to telephone 0191-383 4092 for further information and a preliminary application form.