AROUND 600 extra childcare places are being created in Blackburn with Darwen thanks to lottery cash.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has won more than £200,000 from the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund to provide the additional 582 places for three to five-year-olds in the borough.

The new childcare places, a 69 per cent increase on the previous figure of 839 places, will mean parents can buy additional hours to extend their children's two-and-a-half hour nursery education sessions before and after school and during holidays.

Some of the extra 582 places will be created at Darwen and Roman Road Integrated Children's Centres due to open this year, which will also offer childcare for children aged up to three, healthcare, adult education opportunities and family support under one roof.

Others will be created at Audley, Accrington Road, Longshaw and Seven Trees children's centres, due to open next year, which will also become part of the council's new Early Years service.

Coun Mahfooz Hussain, executive member for education and lifelong learning, welcomed the funding saying the extra childcare would help local parents get back into education, training or employment.

Chairman of the New Opportunities Fund Baroness Jill Pitkeathley said the funding for Blackburn with Darwen was part of £3.7 million to fund places across the North West.

She said: "The announcement represents a landmark in the work of creating the range of childcare places children and parents need and deserve."