I WELCOME David Cameron's latest commission on childcare - to help working families and bring down the cost of nursery fees.

Last week my friend told me that her average childcare cost was just over £1,000 for two children – I could not believe it...needless to say my jaw dropped to the floor.

And according to a recent survey more than a third of parents have considered quitting work because of the struggle to meet childcare costs which doesn’t surprise me.

The survey - carried out by Mumsnet and the Daycare Trust one in eight have actually left a job, while one in five have turned a job offer down because of the cost of childcare.

The survey reveals that parents are even resorting to borrowing in order to send their child to nursery or a childminder, with 14% taking money from friends and family, or paying on a credit card.

Luckily I only have one child in nursery and the amount that I pay is more than my mortgage.

It’s a shame when hard working parents who want to earn an honest wage, have to sacrifice their earnings to ensure their children are in quality childcare surroundings.

Childcare is now one of the top cost-of-living burdens on families with the average annual cost of part-time care for under twos is £5,000.

In the UK childcare on average takes up 33% of income, compared to 11% in France, 8% in Denmark and 6% in Sweden.

Let’s hope that the changes will make it less stressful for parents’ pockets as well as their working lives.