BUSY parents and bored youngsters could be in luck, with new National Lottery funding for childcare places in Bury.

Four projects in the borough have been successful with a total bid for £65,993 from the New Opportunities Fund.

The cash is aimed at allowing mums and dads to work, train, or study, confident in the knowledge that their children are being well looked after.

Four projects will benefit, providing nearly 100 extra childcare places before and after school, as well as during holidays.

Bids were submitted jointly between the individual schemes and Bury Council.

A windfall of nearly £23,000 will allow for dramatic expansion before and after school facilities provided at Bury's Little Holcombe Nursery on Brandlesholme Road.

Two flats above the premises are to be converted, subject to planning permission, to house a 24-place breakfast, homework and holiday club.

Nursery manager Nina Johnson said: "We're very pleased. We already provide some of this type of care but this will allow us to expand tremendously."

The largest share, £35,662, goes to Bury FC's Football In the Community scheme. It guarantees funding for their holiday project, catering for 40 children aged 8-12, for three years.

Community officer Stephen Raynor: "It's fantastic and the boost that we have been waiting for.

"Children will be involved in all types of activity, so that parents can go out to work in the knowledge that their children are safe and doing something positive."

Sunnybank Primary School receives more than £3,000 for a new 24-place after school scheme, after a bid was submitted by private childcare firm Foundations for Learning.

Head teacher Mike Green said he was "delighted" with the news.

And a grant of just under £2,000 will breathe new life, and eight extra places, into Radcliffe Infant School's "Three O'Clock Club".

Headteacher of the Coronation Road School, Mrs Chris Heald, said that she was "ecstatic".

Announcing his own delight at the awards, Bury Council's executive member for lifelong learning, Coun Steve Perkins, said: "This is great news for the early years development and childcare partnership who submitted this bid.

"They received every penny of the money they asked for, which underlines the strength of the case that was put forward.

"For many families this funding will make a big difference and, spread as it is across a number of schemes across the borough, I believe it will have a significant impact."