LOTTERY grants worth thousands of pounds are set to create hundreds of new child care places in York, North and East Yorkshire.

The grants are part of a £2.5 million boost from the New Opportunities Fund to create out-of-school care places in Yorkshire and Humberside.

York will get a £70,679 slice of the funding which will create five new after-school clubs, providing 170 new places.

The five schools are Fulford Pre-School, Walmgate Nursery, St Paul's Primary School, Carr Out-of-School Club, and Zenergise, which has not yet been created.

Each of the clubs has received different amounts of the grant to fund either setting up or expansion.

Councillor Janet Looker, executive member for education at City of York Council, said she was delighted with the funding.

She said: "This is a particularly important area. We are committed to creating opportunities for parents to feel confident that they have some where for their children to be able to go.

"One wants quality provision for children after school and these things are quite expensive to run if you want to do it well.

"This money is a recognition we have to invest in good quality after school provision and I am delighted."

The city council's new opportunities fund co-ordinator, Janis Towse, said the new clubs would cater for a good cross-section of ages in different areas of the city.

She added: "It will also be quality child care. As part of the bidding process we asked each club to take on some kind of quality assurance scheme."

North Yorkshire County Council has received nearly £450,000 worth of funding, which will create almost 1,300 places.

In East Yorkshire a grant of more than £40,000 will create three new clubs and 246 child care places.

Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, chairwoman of the fund, said: "There are now over 7,000 clubs UK-wide, over half of which have received some support from the fund.

"We know that without these clubs many parents would not be able to access work or training and that they can concentrate more on the task in hand knowing that their children are safe and well looked after."

Any York clubs whiche would like to be considered for the next round of applications should contact Janis Towse on 01904 554624

For other information about lottery funding phone 0845 2750000.

Updated: 15:08 Wednesday, November 06, 2002