MORE than 600 nursery school places could be created in the most deprived areas of County Durham.

Durham County Council is getting £3.7m from the Government's Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative, which aims to help people and groups set up nurseries in areas where provision is scarce or non-existent.

A total of £3,757,600 is being made available to the council for a three-year programme. It includes capital for new buildings, modernisation or refurbishment, and revenue to partly fund new places. Officials hope the money will enable a big increase in the 1,395 places currently available. County Durham's Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership is co-ordinating local applications for funding. The council - the local education authority - leads the group, which is also made up of parents, the county's health authority, providers of nursery and childcare services, local businesses, voluntary organisations and district and borough councils.

Lynne Henderson, the council's programme co-ordinator for early years development, said: "Individuals or groups will have the opportunity to develop businesses of their own, creating jobs and nursery places in areas of County Durham where they are most needed.''

The partnership is inviting people from the independent, voluntary, maintained and private nursery sectors who are interested in setting up nurseries to telephone (0191) 383 4092 for further information and a preliminary application form.