THOUSANDS of childcare places will be created across the North-East, thanks to a huge Lottery boost.

The New Opportunities Fund is ploughing £1,490,661 into the region's pre-school and after-school clubs. The money will also be used to set up weekend and holiday clubs for youngsters.

Fifteen separate grants have been awarded to the region creating 2,300 childcare places in the North-East.

Over the years, the New Opportunities Fund has awarded £10.5m to the North-East for childcare, creating 22,500 places in different clubs.

Among the awards is £201,130 for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which will lead to four childcare clubs being created.

Lesley Sanderson, the early years childcare partnership manager for the council, said: "We are thrilled with the announcement for the development of 264 new out-of-school childcare places.

"This funding will enable providers to offer more quality childcare to support parents and children across the borough."

Eleanor Lister, cabinet member for education in Darlington also welcomed the grant.

She said: "This is a major contribution to the development of child care places across the town and to meeting the parental demand."

Meanwhile, research by the New Opportunities Fund has revealed that 70 per cent of child care schemes set up with Lottery grants would not have opened without its backing.

Who receives what:

Darlington - 20 places will be created from £10,266. One new club will be set up and will serve eight schools.

Durham - 304 places from £180,800. Three clubs will be set up and two existing clubs will be expanded.

Gateshead - 359 places from £128,437. One club created and four expanded.

Hartlepool - £184,151 will create 304 places. Six clubs will be set up and four expanded.

Newcastle - 24 places from £31,962. One new club and one will be expanded to serve three schools.

North Tyneside - 142 places from £108,223.

Redcar and Cleveland - 371 places £278,505.

South Tyneside - £107,302 to create 367 places for six new clubs

Sunderland - 156 places created from £65,697. Five new clubs and one expanded serving six schools.