THE announcement that the government is to spend £300million on a new family hubs for parents and children has been welcomed by East Lancashire politicians.

But Labour has accused the Conservatives of seeking to replace the Sure Start system it destroyed after coming to power in 2010.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed the new Start for Life parenting programme in his Budget today.

It will pay for 75 family hubs across England and mental health and other support for parents and children.

There was a further £200m to support families who face complex issues that could lead to breakdown

It was part of a major package of education spending which included millions of pounds for expanding UCLAN's Burnley campus.

Blackburn Labour MP Kate Hollern said: "It’s good to see the government have finally recognised the importance of a good start in life for children and families. It’s just a shame their drastic cuts over the past eleven years destroyed Labour’s identical Sure Start programme of children’s centres and this funding will not recover what has been lost. “

Cllr Julie Gunn, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s education boss, said: “This change of heart by the government is welcome but it is too late.

“We struggled to keep eight out of 13 very effective Sure Start centres and many families and children have lost out from the Tory government’s policy on this.”

Hyndburn Conservative MP Sara Britcliffe said: “This government is committed to giving children a good start and I welcome this programme. I am confident it will be more effective than Labour’s ‘Sure Start’.”

The cash for the Burnley College expansion came as Mr Sunak approved the borough’s levelling up bid which also includes money for new Eastern Gateway road link from Burnley Town Centre to Turf Moor football ground and access improvements at Manchester Road railway station.”

Burnley Council’s Labour leader Cllr Afrasiab Anwar said: “This is great news

The Budget also awarded £185,088 for the Clayton Community Wellbeing Hub in Clayton-le-Moors Civic Hall.