A ONE-OFF grant has helped cover the cost of more out-of-school holiday clubs than ever before in the Richmondshire area.

At least 230 new childcare places have been created in the past year, with funding from Westminster channelled through North Yorkshire County Council.

Council spokeswoman Di Smith told a meeting in Richmond this week that, after receiving financial help for a year, most of the groups would have to go it alone.

However, she said: "This is a new opportunity and communities must not miss out."

Projects set up in the area under the programme included a 48-place club at Catterick, where children are collected from a nursery and taken for lunch, staying until 6pm if required. A 72-place out-of-school club has also been set up at Catterick.

A nursery at Scorton has expanded to 60 places and another at Brompton-on-Swale is soon to open a 16-place out-of-school club.

Three childminders have used grants to cater for 22 youngsters before and after school and during holidays. A 52-place club looks set to open at the scout hut in Richmond, linked with nurseries. A nursery at Colburn should be established by next September.