CHILDCARE in the borough is to get more than £250,000, in a round of grants by the National Lottery.

The successful bid was announced by the New Opportunities Fund as part of a national £36m boost for after-school childcare facilities. Schemes at a Prestwich Cricket club and another in Unsworth will be among those that benefit.

Bury's share of the money, totalling £267,486, will help provide 434 new places in a variety of existing or new schemes across the borough. The money will also create more jobs in the childcare sector.

Some of the money will be directed to services provided by Bury Council's education and leisure services while other places will be provided in the private and voluntary sector.

There are currently 47 before and after school clubs in the area, and 28 existing play schemes targeted at children aged between five and 11.

But a prominent feature of Bury's successful application was to provide holiday care for older children between the ages of eight and 14 through the council's sports development unit at various sports clubs across the town.

A total of 13 schemes will benefit from the new cash, including:

Prestwich Cricket, Tennis and Bowls Club (£18,300)

Unsworth Cricket Club (£17,800)

Sunshine play nursery (£7,900)

St John's out-of-school club (£18,000)

Kids' Academy (£10,500)

Amber's Attic Ltd (£24,900)

Sure Start, Redvales (£33, 600)

Castle Leisure Centre Playscheme (£10,600).

Bury Sports Development Unit schemes at:

Bury Sports Club (£19,300)

Elton Vale Sports Club (£17,500)

Walshaw Sports Club (£17,300)

Radcliffe Sports Club (£20,900)

Creche and Co Limited (£4,500) .

Some of the groups have also already been granted ongoing, extra funding for up to two additional years, between them sharing an extra £35,000.

Councillor Steve Perkins, Bury Council's Executive Member for Lifelong Learning, said: "I know everyone is delighted with this money which will bring significant benefits to parents and children right across the borough. The money will also enable the partnership to extend after-school activities to older children in a variety of creative new schemes."

The bid for cash was made through Bury Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership.