Children's centres to get �1.9m

The centres provide support for children and their families

An extra £1.9m is to be invested in children's centres across Brighton and Hove over the next two years, the city council has said.

Cash will be spent on building three new SureStart centres, which support children under five and their families, and improving three other bases.

The authority said it would bring the total number of children's centres in the city to 19.

Building work is due to start later this year and be completed by 2011.

Councillor Vanessa Brown said: "Since their creation in 2006, children's centres across the city have helped to achieve better outcomes for young children."

She said the centres had provided childcare, early learning and advice for parents focusing on the most disadvantaged children.

The new centres will be built in Westdene, Saltdean and Preston Park, and the existing centres to be improved are the Roundabout Children's Centre in Whitehawk, the Hollingdean Children's Centre base in Shenfield Way and the Hangleton Park centre.