MOVES are under way to create children's centres delivering high-quality early years education, care and health services in the most deprived areas of County Durham.

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

The unit will be 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 in County Durham to plan a strategy and try to secure the necessary funding from the Government to pay for the initiative.

The county council cabinet's 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 scheme for the county from 2004 to 2006 is almost £7m.

The aim is to reach nearly 11,500 children aged up to five and create 756 extra 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."

It is anticipated that most of the centres will link with the existing 14 local Sure Start projects, new and planned Neighbourhood Nurseries, Early Excellence Centres and other existing educational facilities, including nurseries and schools.