AS a working single mum I am glad that I can go out to work and get a little extra money under the government's Working Families Tax Credit scheme.

However, after successfully renewing my application recently, for the second time, I am rather annoyed about the unfairness of the scheme in terms of childcare costs.

I have one son, aged 9, in full time education and use a childminder before and after school for 20 hours each week.

My total childcare bill comes to £40 and is increased to £70-plus during the school holidays, which amount for around 12-weeks every year.

Despite my childminder completing the form outlining these charges, for both term time and holidays, the calculations done by the Inland Revenue have put my total weekly childcare tax credit at just £37, which is the figure from which they work out how much childcare assistance I get from the public purse.

Although this money does help during term time, it is less than half of my total bill during my son's school holidays.

But what really annoys me is that the advertising campaign for this benefit tells people a different story and gives parents the impression that the government will foot a good chunk of the childcare bill.

But what they don't tell you is that this will be a fixed amount (for six months) after they have manipulated the figures!

Mrs D Eaton

Leyland Lane

Leyland