PARENTS in Bolton can look forward to more childcare provision, thanks to a £786,959 boost from the Lottery.

The grant will create more after-school and holiday places and give extra help to Bolton Lads and Girls Club and the School Shuttle childcare service.

The team at Bolton Lads and Girls Club spent more than a year putting together their bid for the New Opportunities Fund money, which will allow them to provide 150 extra after-school places all year. The club, which recently moved from its old headquarters at Bark Street to a hi-tech building at Spa Road, was one of the first in the town to provide after-school places and the management is thrilled to be able to welcome even more youngsters.

Jerry Glover, from the club, said: "It means we can employ more people, which supports the town generally and helps working parents to know that their children are somewhere safe.

"The money will enable us to do more with the 11 to 15 age group. They can come to the club after school, have something to eat and take part in sporting activities."

The School Shuttle service, which has headquarters in St George's Road, will be able to open their eighth and ninth childcare centres providing breakfast, after-school and holiday places, as well as creating an extra 14 jobs.