NO ONE will lose out as a result of a reduction in nursery places in Redcar and Cleveland.

The pledge came from council leader David Walsh after it was agreed to reduce places at 15 nursery schools. Some staff will be redeployed, but there are to be no redundancies.

Coun Walsh said: "No one will lose out."

Problems have arisen because of a fall in the borough's birth rate - steeper than previously anticipated.

The authority's education director, Jenny Lewis, said the council had a good record of providing early years education and was in advance of government targets for places.

To comply with national staffing ratios, some places will be reduced from September.

Any savings will be recycled into the local education system.

Coun Walsh said: "We are getting fewer bouncing babies coming through.

"Where there is a fall in the numbers of three to five-year-olds there will have to be a corresponding fall in our ability to provide nursery care.