HUNDREDS of youngsters and their families will benefit from a new children's centre in west York.

The one-stop shop for youngsters and families is due to be completed within weeks at Westfield School in Acomb, which has more than 703 pupils on its roll.

The aim is to establish a network of eight children's centres across York by the end of March, building on the success of the Sure Start local programme in the Clifton and Hob Moor areas of the city.

The centres are at the heart of a national strategy to tackle child poverty and social exclusion, and are aimed at children aged up to five years and their parents or carers.

To date, centres have been created at Hob Moor and Clifton, but building work is currently ongoing at six other primary school sites across the city - New Earswick, Westfield, Haxby Road, St Lawrence's CE, Tang Hall and Carr.

York's first two children's centres - Hob Moor and Clifton - are up and running and provide for children under five and their families.

The Westfield centre is due to open on schedule and should be complete about the same time as one at New Earswick Primary School.

The Press reported on Wednesday the New Earswick centre had suffered a number of setbacks and was not due to open until September.

The centres have been designated as Sure Start children's centres by the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCFS).

City of York Council's director of Children's Services, Pete Dwyer, said: "We are extremely proud these centres have been recognised as providing the services required to reach the designated standard.

"This is a significant milestone in York's children's centre programme.

"The aim is for our other six centres to be designated during the Spring of 2008 so that they too can be identified as Sure Start Children's Centres."

A total of 12 children's centres will be created in York by March 2010.

"Decisions about the sites of the other four centres will be taken by the council, in consultation with partner agencies and other stakeholders, over the next two months. Coun Carol Runciman, executive member for Children's Services, said: "I am delighted that there are two new children's centres opening in Westfield and New Earswick, which I am sure families will use a lot.

"It is Lib Dem policy to ensure that services are available to people at a local level, and I know that people will find the fact that these children's centres are local and therefore easily accessible a great help."