TWO primary schools have been identified as ideal locations for a £1m project aimed at young children and their parents.

Timothy Hackworth Primary School, in Shildon, and Stephenson Way Primary School, in Newton Aycliffe, are the sites that have been chosen by SureStart to build two centres.

Consultation exercises carried out with parents by the SureStart initiative for Shildon and Newton Aycliffe West have identified the schools as central locations for families that would be using the services SureStart has to offer.

Finer details of how big the buildings will be, their location on the site of each school and access provisions have still to be finalised.

Programme manager Julia Pope said: "We are still very much in the early stages of everything.

"There are huge benefits to be gained from working in partnership with schools and we have identified two primary schools after 12 months of consultation with families across both patches.

"We have looked at local service providers and have taken into account all of the other developments going on across the county and borough, to look at the bigger picture before making a decision."

It is estimated that about £500,000 will be available to spend on each building, which will offer a number of services to complement those that are already being offered in the area.

Some of the services that will be offered include health services, drop-in facilities, one to one counselling and training opportunities for parents and carers. The family centre in Shildon will offer full-day care facilities.

Mrs Pope said: "The services that we are going to offer will not take away from the services that are already being offered.

"They will complement services that are already in existence. It is about working in partnership with others to improve the social, emotional and physical development of young children.''

People in both towns are being urged to come forward with suggestions and ideas of what they want to see in both centres.

Mrs Pope can be contacted on (01388) 777613.