CHILDCARE places across the borough have topped the 1,000 mark thanks to the latest funding boost.

Bury's Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP) has secured £103,599 from the Lottery to create another 112 places for children aged from five to 14.

The project will create four new clubs, with the money helping to employ two full-time and six part-time staff.

The news means that the partnership has created nearly 1,100 since the out-of-school hours childcare programme, with money from the Lottery's New Opportunities Fund, was launched in 1999 to support the Government's national childcare strategy.

The latest grant takes the amount given to Bury schemes to £755,842. Such clubs give children valuable extra-curricular activities, and helped sports clubs and other groups with funding for building repairs.

Karen Blackledge, Bury EYDCP's out-of-school co-ordinator, said: "This funding has enabled parents to seek employment or to continue working during the school holidays, and has helped employ 140 childcare staff and fund 34 childcare providers including childminders, private day nurseries, voluntary management groups and sports clubs."

Councillor Steve Perkins, executive member for lifelong learning, said: "This scheme has benefited thousands of parents and children across the borough but the indirect benefits have been almost as important."