PARENTS and children in Bolton will benefit from an £80,000 boost to help them work and play.

The New Opportunities Fund (NOF) has announced that the town will benefit from the cash to help establish four new centres catering for after-school and holiday play scheme activities.

In total, 18 after-school places, 24 holiday and 66 all-year-round play places will be created for children aged between four and 14 at various locations across the town.

The grant of £80,254 will fund the Y2K Kidz Klub based at Masefield Primary, Little Lever, which will create 16 after-school places.

It will also help establish School's Out in Heaton Dean, creating more than 20 all-year places.

Waggon Road Play Centre, Breightmet, will benefit from 40 all-year places and the Early Years Kids Club on Pilkington Street will profit by 24 holiday play scheme places. Bolton Local Education Authority (LEA) out of school childcare development officer Chris McIver described the cash boost as "great news" for children and parents.

"It will provide good quality after-school and holiday places for children and will mean we will be able to fund activities for children, not merely for play, but to stimulate them across a range of subjects including the arts, sports and games.

"The schemes will also benefit parents because it will mean many will be able to work knowing their children will be catered for."

Mr McIver said some of the schemes will be created almost immediately with the remainder coming on stream by the end of this month.