AN Aladdin's cave of games will open up to children with the creation of a series of toy libraries.

The Government yesterday unveiled a £6m scheme to establish 150 toy libraries for children in deprived areas, providing them with £40,000 each to spend on staff, premises and toys.

Lucy Hovvels, outreach worker for the National Association of Toy and Leisure Libraries, covering County Durham and Cleveland, said the initiative would have a major impact.

"Playing is an essential part of child development and something that should be enjoyed by the whole family," she said.

"I'm sure this will make a big difference, particularly for people who might be experiencing social isolation or disadvantage."

She said a library meant children in low-income families would still be able to play with a variety of toys. It also helped new parents learn how to play with their children, as well as which toys were appropriate for different age groups.

She said: "It is all right having a lot of toys, but if you don't know how to play with them you don't get full value out of them."

Darlington's Corporation Road Nursery Centre is launching its own toy library in April and assistant manager Sarah Carling welcomed the Government initiative.

She said: "It is encouraging parents to play with their children, with a variety of toys, including educational and durable toys."

Education minister Margaret Hodge, who announced the initiative, said: "Every parent knows toys and play equipment can be expensive.

"As a result, many young children from deprived areas are going without essential early play that is crucial to child development.

"That's wrong and we're determined to change that."

She said research had shown that young children who played with letters and numbers, and worked with their parents on the alphabet and nursery rhymes, performed better at age three and pre-school