More than 650 new places are being set up in the North West

The New Opportunities Fund has allocated more than �2.2m to aid the creation of more than 650 new pre-school places in the region.

The cash is part of the Building Neighbourhood Nurseries programme which is being run jointly with the Department for Education and Skills.

The programme aims to help close the gap in pre-school childcare provision between affluent and disadvantaged areas.

Michelle McNamee, North West regional manager for the lottery fund, said: "The grants are paving the way for the creation of much needed childcare places in the North West by investing in nurseries."

Amongst those who have been awarded grants is Knowsley Council which has been given nearly �1m to build, extend and renovate seven neighbourhood nurseries.

Counselling service

The grants will help create 224 new full day-care places.

Education officers Carol Redmond said: "This funding enables Knowsley to build new nurseries in the borough that will combine facilities for children and families under one roof.

"We are delighted to receive these awards."

The Vauxhall Adult Education Trust in Liverpool has been awarded �87,320 to extend its existing nursery by buying an adjacent building, knocking it through and creating an additional 20 places.

Once the building is completed, the Rotunda Community College Nursery will also be able to offer a counselling service for children and adult education services for parents.

The trust's Libby McKay said: "The nursery has always been at the heart of Rotunda Community College.

"With this expansion, it will become an important element of a visionary regeneration of the whole area."

Regional breakdown

Elsewhere in Merseyside, the Sure Start Ferries group is to set up a 50-place nursery in Birkenhead, Wirral and the Fazakerley Family Support Project will build a new nursery next to a church.

In Lancashire, a 50-place nursery will be set up by Blackburn with Darwen Council, Lancashire County Council will extend the Taywood Nursery School, and set up two new 30-place nurseries.

In Greater Manchester, a 24-place nursery will be set up in Bolton, a 37-place modular nursery will be created in Stockport, a house in Bury will be converted into a nursery for 30 children, and the refurbishment of a nursery in Manchester will create 23 new places.

In Cumbria, 26 new places will be created in the Egermont area and Frizington Nursery School will expand.