YOUNGSTERS in Bury are to benefit from a childcare windfall of almost £70,000, which will help expand several out-of-hours clubs.

The council has been given £69,490 by the Lottery good cause distributor, the New Opportunities Fund, to establish more than 100 extra before and after school places, as well as holiday places, for children aged 3-11.

The money will now be used to provide additional places in the Walshaw, Ramsbottom, Elton and Redvales areas. The funding will help towards the cost of minor building refurbishment, staffing, equipment and materials. It may also mean the creation of new clubs.

Councillor John Costello, chairman of the council's early years development childcare partnership, said: "As we approach the final stages of the fund's out of school hours childcare programme, we can see some of the real benefits which projects have brought to children, their families and local communities.

"These grants are particularly welcome as they reflect the diversity of need within our borough."

In the last three years since the New Opportunities Fund has been available, Bury has successfully been able to create 731 new out of school places and been awarded a total of £556,708.

As part of the national childcare strategy, Bury Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership is working towards the development of more out of school childcare places, as there is still a very high demand for provision.

The announcement is part of the £27 million being awarded to create nearly 50,000 childcare places in the UK.