LOCAL Asian women are training to became the first ethnic qualified child minders in the Stoneyholme and Daneshouse area of Burnley.

A new childminder and mother and toddler group was launched at the Stoneyholme and Daneshouse Community Centre attended by 15 mums and their children.

The Incy Wincy group will now meet every Friday between 9.30 and 11.30am. The club is open to all and will provide toys and activities for the young children to enjoy both inside and in the outdoor play area.

The support project is funded by Burnley's challenge fund, the European Social Fund and managed by New Era Enterprises in partnership with Burnley College and social services inspection unit.

Project key worker Terri Hacking said: "We have about eight local Asian women already training to become childminders, the first in this area."

When they qualify at the end of a six-month course they will take over the running of the project.

Pictured from the left are organiser Farah Naeem, Haseeb Khan, four, and Jawad Khan, four.