GRANTS to help more childminders start working in North Yorkshire are available through a county council scheme.

Start-up grants are on offer, ranging from £50 to a maximum of £600.

The money can be spent on start-up costs, such as registration and inspection fees, insurance, building work, membership of a national organisation, initial training, and basic equipment.

Grants will be paid once the childminders have been registered with social services.

North Yorkshire County Council is keen to see childminders operating in Boroughbridge, Swaledale, Aiskew and Bedale, Alanbrooke Barracks, at Topcliffe, Ryedale, and Scarborough.

Bernadette Jones, head of the county's education policy and development unit, said: "We want to develop a childminder service right across North Yorkshire, through the money which is now available."

Anyone interested in becoming a registered childminder should ring their social services customer relations unit