MORE than 1,000 new childcare places will be created in Bolton if plans get Government approval.

The places will be created in playgroups, day nurseries, after-school or holiday clubs and with childminders under the Bolton Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership action plan for 2003-4.

More than half of these places will be in the town's disadvantaged areas and about £40,000 is to be spent on providing childcare training.

The annual action plan has now been submitted to the Department for Education and Skills, and the partnership expects full approval in April.

Partnership bosses are working closely with Bolton's four Sure Start projects, in Great Lever, Rumworth, Farnworth and Halliwell, in an attempt to improve childcare facilities.

Under the plan, the partnership wants to continue funding Early Education places for all three and four-year-olds, and to provide training for both potential and current childcare workers.

Training, which will be run with local colleges, will include courses offering vocational qualifications such as NVQs.

Cllr Linda Thomas said: "Bolton Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership work very hard with childcare providers from all sectors.

"Another 1,000 places is good news for the families in Bolton."

To find out more about childcare places or working with children, contact the Childcare Information Service on 01204 358851 or visit its website at www.childreninbolton.org.