TWO huge projects to improve opportunities for young children in Bolton have been given the go ahead by planning chiefs.

Sure Start centres for Daubhill and Great Lever that will help children get a better start in life and support them and their families have now been approved.

Building will start soon on the centres at Paulhan Street in Great Lever and then at Blackledge Street in Daubhill.

They will join one which has just opened in Halliwell. That centre received national acclaim from Government minister Charles Clarke when he visited. Another centre is also planned for Kearsley, but that proposal has been delayed for investigations into the impact on the local roads after protests by some residents.

The new community centres and the services they provide will be managed by Sure Start Bolton based at Mawdsley Street. It is partnership involving Bolton Council, the health service, community and voluntary groups and local parents.

Services will include affordable and accessible child care, parents groups, services to help teenage parents, play opportunities, extra support for children with special needs and projects to help speech and language development and encourage reading. There will also be a careers advice service.

Help will be given to parents from before the birth of their children until they are four-years-old.

Daubhill ward councillor and planning committee member Tom Anderton expressed his delight at the proposals.

He said: "I welcome this news. Sure Start is a fantastic idea which is needed for the town. This is the best proposal I have seen for a long time in my ward."

Three years of Government funding of £2.4m has been provided but councillors hope cash can be found to support the scheme for up to 10 years.