ALARM has been raised over the number of nurseries and childminders condemned as inadequate by inspectors in two parts of the region.

Middlesbrough and South Tyneside were found to have a significantly higher proportion of failing childcare providers than the national average.

Across England, four per cent of childcarers were judged "inadequate" in inspections carried out over a two-year period by the watchdog Ofsted.

But that proportion was 6.3 per cent in Middlesbrough and 7.3 per cent - or more than in 14 providers - in South Tyneside.

A third North-East authority - Redcar and Cleveland (4.4 per cent) - also had a failure rate above the average, although only slightly.

In contrast, the proportion of "inadequate" childcarers was far below the average in Hartlepool (2.2 per cent), Stockton (2.5 per cent) and North Yorkshire (2.5 per cent).

Hartlepool also boasted easily the highest proportion praised by Ofsted as "outstanding" - 4.3 per cent.

Ofsted hailed the report as showing that the majority of nurseries and childminders across England were succeeding in helping children to achieve and enjoy learning.

Christine Gilbert, Her Majesty's chief inspector for education, said: "This is good news for parents and carers and a credit to those working in the childcare sector.

"The vast majority of providers are committed to ensuring that children achieve well, enjoy their learning and development, contribute to their own achievements and have good relationships with other children and adults."

However, Ofsted acknowledged that the four per cent of providers found to be inadequate was no improvement on the last round of assessments.

And the proportion of childminders judged to be good or better was six per cent lower - a fall blamed on an increase in the number newly registered and, therefore, less experienced.

Nurseries and childminders judged "inadequate" are automatically re-inspected within one year, when, typically, 86 per cent are found to have improved.

There has been a big increase in the number of childminders and nurseries since Labour came to power, fuelled by tax credits to persuade the low-paid to go back to work.

The Government also introduced free nursery places for all three and four-year-olds and is considering extending the number of weekly hours from 12.5 to 15