YOUNGSTERS across Darlington will be given the best possible start in life thanks to more than £300,000 of funding for a children's centre.

Impressive levels of educational, health and social care will be provided at the centre to be built in the grounds of Mount Pleasant Primary School, in Branksome, at a cost of almost £630,000.

Following 18 months of work by officials in Darlington, the European Regional Development Fund money will be matched by the Government under its SureStart scheme, which targets under four-year-olds ensuring they get the best start to life.

Services to benefit both children and their parents and carers will be provided by the SureStart team, Darlington Primary Care Trust, Darlington NHS Acute Hospital Trust and Darlington Borough Council.

These include health promotion initiatives, midwifery and health visitor services, infant and baby massage, breast-feeding and peer group support, and smoking cessation advice.

SureStart programme manager Lynne Henderson said: "I am absolutely delighted with the news, as it means we can do so much more and provide the holistic approach to children and family needs."

The new building will be attached to the primary school and feature offices for ten staff, meeting rooms, children's activity area and child care facilities.

It will also house information technology equipment to support adult learning, helping parents to take a variety of courses and giving them the skills and confidence to return to work.

Darlington Primary Care Trust's non-executive director with special responsibilities for children, Councillor Bill Dixon, said it will be the first of many facilities the trust hopes to provide in the borough.

North-East Euro MP Stephen Hughes, Darlington MP Alan Milburn and Darlington council cabinet member Councillor Nick Wallace, visited the site to meet SureStart team members and parents.

Mr Hughes said: "It is absolutely fantastic and a tremendously positive use of European money. There couldn't be a better investment than the young people of Darlington."

Building work is expected to take six months.

Mr Milburn said: "SureStart has made a tremendous difference throughout the country, including Darlington, and the new centre in Branksome will help give generations of kids the best start in life."