MORE childcare places for pre-school children in Darlington's most disadvantaged areas will be provided by March 2006.

Darlington Borough Council has been set a target by the Government's SureStart Unit to create at least 100 childcare places by that date for the 2,302 pre-school children in disadvantaged areas.

To meet the Government's target, Darlington Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership, SureStart Local and the Children's Centre's strategic group, have submitted proposals for 110 extra childcare places across the town.

A total of 42 integrated early years education and childcare places will be provided in Cockerton area, available at Mount Pleasant Primary and through a team of four childminders at the SureStart centre in Mount Pleasant.

In Eastbourne, the Firthmoor Neighbourhood Nursery will become a 52-place children's centre under the scheme and nine places will be created with the support of three childminders.

Parents of children at Bank Top and Lascelles will be able to take advantage of nine places supported by a team of three childminders.

In the Park East ward, a Neighbourhood Nursery will be built as part of the Skerne Park extended school development. That will create 52 places, as well as a further nine places through three childminders.

The Kids and Co Nursery in North Road will become a 41- place children's centre, with nine more places created through childminders.

On the Red Hall estate, 20 integrated early years education and childcare places will be based at the primary school and four childminders will provide 12 more places.

Members of the council's lifelong learning scrutiny committee are expected to receive the proposals at its meeting on December 15.