WORK has started to build a £941,000 centre for families in north Durham.

The Sure Start building, in Clifford Road, Stanley, will offer facilities for pre-school children and their parents.

The group has been operating from temporary facilities in Joicey Gardens, east Stanley, but is not ideal for youngsters as it is next to a main road.

Malcolm Pitt, Sure Start Stanley programme manager, said: "The new building will meet parents' identified objective of being within easy walking distance of the bus station and the need to cross busy roads.

"The facility will be far better suited to meet the needs of the various agencies working within Sure Start.

"That in turn will mean a better service for pre-school children and their families, enabling them to receive the best possible start in life."

The centre will serve 21,500 residents across five wards in the Stanley area - Craghead, Havannah, South Moor, South Stanley and Stanley Hall.

It will feature a privately run day care nursery for up to 26 children. There will be rooms dedicated to baby feeding and health, plus a computer training suite, toy library and creche.

There will also be an outdoor children's play area and a community caf.

Sure Start is a Government funded scheme for pre-school children and their families. The Stanley project is a multi-agency partnership, but is led by Durham County Council.

Mr Pitt said: "There are a lot of agencies working in partnership within Sure Start, but it is very much parent-led.

"The aim is to help children in the important first years of their life, so that they make the best possible use of school once they reach school age."