LANCASHIRE is among the best places in the UK for good quality free early education, it has been revealed.

Results from the Department for Education have shown more two to four-year-olds benefit more than any other county in the country.

The county showed 100 per cent of three and four-year-olds receive free early education places, compared to the latest national average of 95 per cent.

The figures also show that 74 per cent of two-year-olds take up a funded place, compared to 71% nationally.

Statistics show that 97 per cent of three and four-year-old children benefit from good or outstanding provision in Lancashire's private, voluntary and independent providers and maintained nursery schools.

Lancashire County Cllr Susie Charles, cabinet member for children, young people and schools, said: "I'd like to recognise the achievements of all our providers of free early education in Lancashire.

"Their hard work and dedication has raised the quality of our provision to a new high, which is reflected in the large numbers of families taking it up.

"To outstrip both the national and North West average in terms of quality and take-up is a remarkable achievement.

"I'm really proud of these results. They are testament to the excellent partnership working between providers and the county council's Early Education team.

"It's great that the overall standard of childcare in Lancashire is up there with the best in the country, but we certainly won't rest on our laurels and we'll continue to make sure that we fulfil our aim of all our children getting a good start, and try to improve our performance even further."