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

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

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

Finer details of how big the buildings will be, their whereabouts on the site of each school and access are yet to be finalised.

Programme manager Julia Pope said: "We are still very much in the early stages of everything. Government guidelines say that we have to build 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 in the borough to look at the bigger picture before we make a decision.''

It is estimated that about £500,000 will be available to spend on each building, which will offer a host of services to complement those already 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 at 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 help with 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 at both centres.

Suggestions can be given to Mrs Pope on (01388) 777613.