Childcare in Mendip has been given a boost, thanks to lottery money.

Groups in the region are to benefit from more than £53,000 to fund additional places. The cash has been given to Somerset County Council by the New Opportunities Fund for the Out Of School Hours Programme.

The money will help provide 66 new childcare places at Frome's Pyramid Children's Centre, Coleford Children's Club and Southhill Nursery at West Cranmore.

It will also go towards providing children with new childcare opportunities and will give parents access to educational and employment opportunities within the community.

The money will enable the Pyramid Children's Centre to provide facilities for 30 extra children throughout the year. At Coleford, there will be 24 extra places and at Cranmore there will be four full-time places and eight will be flexible for individual children's requirements.

The government is committed to creating more affordable child care places for working parents. At the moment there is a national shortage of places which pushes the cost up for parents. The knock-on effect is to penalise parents who want to go back to work or need to do so for extra income.

Julie Whatford, childcare marketing officer for Somerset Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership, said: "The money supports the EYDCP's strategy to create more high-quality childcare throughout the county, helping to provide a sound start for children throughout Somerset."