WORK has started on new facilities to help parents with young families in Middlesbrough.

As part of the Sure Start project, Middlesbrough Borough Council is working with residents, playgroups and childminders to provide tailor-made child care for families.

A new base for the project's work is due to open in January next year, and yesterday, the Mayor of Middlesbrough Kath Bevington helped to break the new ground for the building, in Abingdon Road.

It will have a drop-in facility, play group, creche, computer suites and a toy library.

Sure Start is a government initiative to help parents of young families get child care and help.

Councillor Bevington was joined at the ceremony by residents, members of the Sure Start partnership and representatives of contractors Walter Thompson Ltd.

She said: "Sure Start is about helping young families get the best possible start. I am delighted that Middlesbrough is pioneering a new approach to child care."

Sure Start operates in the St John's Gate, Breckon Hill, Saltwells, Southfield and Abingdon Road areas of Middlesbrough, which house 8,800 people, including 770 children under four years old.