MOVES are under way to create fully-integrated children's centres, delivering high quality early years education, care and health facilities.

Durham County Council is hoping to take advantage of the Government's decision to establish a national Sure Start Unit.

The inter-departmental unit is responsible for ensuring delivery of early years education, more, better and affordable childcare and after school activities, and children's health and family support facilities.

The new approach will apply from next April, but moves are already under way to plan a strategy and secure the Government funding required.

Cabinet member for education, Councillor Neil Foster, said: "The plan is to have children's centre services across 85 of the most deprived wards in County Durham.

"They are among the 20 per cent most deprived in the country.

"The council will play the key role in planning and ensuring delivery of services from the new centres."

The projected cost of the project for the county from 2004-2006 is almost £7m and the aim is to reach almost 11,500 children under the age of five and create 756 childcare places.

Coun Foster said: "This is a very challenging project and we have now started to engage local partners so we can develop a coherent plan and funding proposal for achieving the reach and childcare places targets.

"There will be a common core of services in each area, but there will be the chance to expand these according to local need.

"But what is evident is that this is a fantastic opportunity to develop and enhance services for children and their families in the most deprived areas of the county."

It is anticipated that most of the centres will link in with the 14 local Sure Start projects already in existence.

They are also intended to combine with new and planned neighbourhood nurseries, early excellence centres and other educational facilities, including nurseries and schools.