THE region's development agencies have been urged to help increase the number of childcare places in their areas.

Leaders of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) are calling on the country's regional development agencies, such as One NorthEast and Yorkshire Forward, to ensure more people have access to affordable child care.

The union leaders have warned that if childcare is not improved, it could have a massive impact on individuals, businesses and the economy.

TUC northern regional secretary Kevin Rowan, said: "Too many women are not given the choice of returning to work, which drains valuable skills and experience from our economy.

A Government survey has revealed that in the North-East 52 per cent of families believe there are not enough childcare places, compared to 43 per cent in Yorkshire.

The TUC has called on all regional development agencies to include policies to increase access to child care in their Regional Economic Strategies (RES), which are being drawn up.

Phil Shakeshaft, head of strategy at One NorthEast, said: "Clearly, there are economic benefits to bringing people back into the workforce regardless of the reasons they have been previously excluded.

"Tackling social and economic exclusion has always been high on the agency's list of priorities, and all views on this matter will be taken into account before the RES review is finalised."