CHILD minders in Pendle are being given the chance to borrow a range of toys and books to help keep toddlers entertained.

The "toy library" initiative means people working in early years and childcare in the borough are the first in the county to be offered the loan service designed especially for them.

Lancashire is one of a handful of local authorities in Britain equipped to deliver the loan service.

A host of items including toys, books and topic-based equipment can be borrowed for free as long as the child minder signs up to be a member for a small yearly subscription.

Local Sure Start programmes, Bradley and Whitefield, Brierfield and Walverden, Waterbridge and Walton Lane Children's Centre and Lancashire County Council's Children First Resource Centre have teamed up to provide the service.

Organisers say it makes it easier for those working in childcare and early education to borrow a "fabulous" range of resources.

Val Farrow, head of Sure Start, early years and childcare at Lancashire County Council, said: "The resource centre is a much-needed service which has gone from strength to strength. Practitioners value the facility immensely and it is good that they can now access it on a more local level".

And over the next two years, the Nelson flagship project will be duplicated so everyone working in child care and education in Lancashire will be able to access the resource loan service locally.

The project will be given a high-profile launch tomorrow at Walton Lane Children's Centre from 1 to 7pm.

Sure Start is a Government-funded initiative to help children and educate parents in deprived areas.

Anyone working in childcare in the Pendle area who has not received an invitation to the launch can contact Marion Bamford on 01772 334283 or e-mail marion.bamford@ed.lancscc.gov.uk.