PLANS for new childcare facilities in Middlesbrough are set to create more than 40 jobs.

Money from the Government's New Opportunities Fund (NOF) and private investors will fund the two 80-place nurseries in east and south Middlesbrough.

They are part of a £1.95m boost for the town from the NOF, which will see 320 childcare places being created.

National provider, Wind in the Willows, is converting the old family centre in Brambles Farm into a nursery, while CfBT, an independent not-for-profit provider of education services, will manage the second nursery, in Coulby Newham, which is being developed by Weatherhead Construction near the Parkway Centre.

Both will be in areas where the Middlesbrough Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership has identified a gap in childcare provision.

Middlesbrough executive member for education and councillor for Coulby Newham, Paul Thompson, said: "This is a big investment in the kind of quality childcare which is needed to give children in Middlesbrough the best possible start.

"As well as helping children, these developments will also have an impact on the local economy.

Both nurseries will recruit locally, and the extra childcare places will mean parents will have more opportunities to go into training and find jobs."

The Brambles Farm Nursery will open before Christmas and the Coulby Newham facility will open in spring 2003