A SUCCESSFUL scheme aimed at stamping out child poverty in east Cleveland is to be introduced in another part of the borough.

The Sure Start programme is a Government-backed initiative, which aims to introduce a series of community child-based programmes in areas hit by poverty and social deprivation.

The scheme also provides opportunites to learn parental skills and breaks down barriers of isolation often felt particularly by single parents with small children.

Sure Start has been operating in the Loftus, Carlin How and Skinningrove areas of east Cleveland for more than a year and has been hailed a great success.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is planning to introduce the programme into the urban areas of Grangetown and South Bank.

The new scheme will also take in the areas of Whale Hill, Lazenby and Lackenby.

The scheme operates as a partnership between parents, staff, the local authority and the local health trust, as well as other interested parties.

The council has bid for a grant of £750,000 to fund the project. It says the benefits to children in the area are enormous.

In a report to the council's executive, Patrick Scott, the borough's director of education, says: "Sure Start makes a significant contribution to the regeneration of any neighbourhood.

"A Sure Start programme should enhance the desirability of any area in which it is sited as it will improve the level of service available to children aged up to four years and their families."

The council executive, which meets on Tuesday, is expected to approve the scheme.