PLAYGROUPS in Burnley and Pendle are being asked to support development boards which could hold the key to pre-school education in the area.

The idea of the boards has come in the wake of proposed controversial government legislation for nursery vouchers.

They are being run by the Pre-school Learning Alliance charity, the body to which most playschools in Burnley and Pendle are associated.

Organisers hope that by getting together playgroups can avoid excessive competition while being able to stimulate new groups where the need arises.

Margaret Lochrie, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said parents with four-year-old children would be able to use vouchers to buy nursery education from April next year unless the Bill is delayed in its final stages through Parliament.

In Burnley and Pendle there are currently 27 playgroups affiliated to the Pre-school Learning Alliance. The groups are attended by more than 1,000 children, of whom nearly 600 will be four years old by April.

Said Mrs Lochrie: "Although many of those pre-schools are apprehensive about vouchers, and critical of the scheme, they are aware of how much parents need help with even the modest fees pre-schools have to charge.

"In most cases, pre-schools do not receive grants at the present time and are dependent on parents' contributions."

Mrs Lochrie added that research into what happened in pilot areas where vouchers have already been introduced showed that parents on low incomes have been able to afford more nursery sessions for their children.

However, no new places have been created and the viability of some playgroups has been threatened.

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