TOWN hall bosses are confident there are enough places to meet demand for increased free childcare entitlements.

Eligible working parents can now claim to 30 hours of free childcare per week for their three and four-year-olds.

Bolton Council says that there are an estimated 2,190 eligible children in the borough and providers have indicated they have 2,668 places available.

Cllr Ann Cunliffe, cabinet member for education, schools, safeguarding and looked after children, said: “The deadline to submit applications for 30 hours free childcare for three and four year olds for this September was on August 31.

“We estimate that there are 2,190 children of working parents in the borough who are eligible for 30 hours free from September and 194 providers have indicated they have 2,668 place available, so there should be plenty of places to meet demand.

“Not only is there sufficient provision, but the quality is of a high standard in Bolton, with 95 per cent of childcare providers rated good or better by Ofsted.”

Parents can apply for free childcare places at bolton.gov.uk and a list of providers is available at mylifeinbolton.org.uk.