HUNDREDS of extra places for children in Bexley will be available at pre and after-school clubs, enabling parents to go back to work.

Bexley Council has secured £177,242 from the country's largest lottery distributor, the new Opportunities Fund, which yesterday announced a further £5m for childcare in London.

It means 12 new after-school and breakfast clubs will be created across the borough, where parents can leave four to 16-year-olds in safe hands while going to work.

The money will also expand an existing scheme and provide a further 200 places on holiday and year-round schemes, boosting the amount of extra places by 564 altogether.

The new clubs, which are expected to open their doors between September and January, will start up in more needy areas towards the north of the borough and in Bexley itself.

But the money for the holiday play schemes will be put to immediate use, starting on July 22 for this year's summer holidays.

The council's play learning development services manager Julie Hay said: "It gives a choice of activities for school-aged children and it gives the opportunity for parents to work with the safe knowledge that their children are in a secure environment."

For more information about out-of-school hours clubs and holiday play schemes call 020 8303 7777 ext 4400.

July 9, 2002 11:30