VILLAGERS have complained to the local government watchdog after missing out on valuable services for pre-school children.

People living in Gainford say they were unfairly treated after being excluded from the Teesdale SureStart scheme.

The catchment area encompasses Barnard Castle and the Gaunless valley, but parishes in the upper dale as well as Gainford and Winston have been left out.

Wendy Withers, chairman of Gainford Parish Council, wrote to the Local Government Ombudsman in April to complain.

This week, the mother-of-two received a reply saying more information was being requested from Teesdale District Council, which helped set up the scheme.

The Ombudsman has asked for an explanation for why certain areas were excluded, as well as minutes from relevant meetings.

Mrs Withers said: "Although we've been told that it's to do with deprivation figures, there are villages a couple of miles away which are no less deprived than we are which are in the scheme.

"We have a lot of young families in Gainford. I'm lucky, I have a car but a lot of mothers don't.

"We're always being told we can use the SureStart facilities in other villages, but we never get to hear of them and, by the time we do, they're often full up."

The scheme provides play, early learning, childcare and family support facilities.

Gillian Quille, programme manager for SureStart Teesdale, said children in Gainford could take part in activities.

"It is unfortunate and I hope that one day the SureStart programme will be entirely available, but that's a central government decision and not down to us.

"The catchment area will have been decided by the local stakeholders, including the council and the primary care trust, based on meeting the largest number of children that are allowed, combined with the greatest need."

District councillor and Teesdale SureStart chairwoman Mary Mitchell said: "We had a limit of 600 children within the SureStart area and it is based on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation.

"It was very unfortunate but there had to be a cut-off and we feel very sorry not to have been able to include Gainford, Winston and the upper dale."