CHILDCARE groups in the most deprived parts of the borough are being urged to bid for their share of a £1.3 million fund before the money is lost.

The government grant aims to help unemployed parents wishing to work and working parents in Hanworth, Heston West and Cranford to have greater and easier access to childcare facilities by creating 220 new nursery places for three-year-olds in the next three years.

However, Hounslow Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership has warned organisations that all bids for neighbourhood nursery grants must be submitted before December 10 or the borough will lose all the unaccounted for funds.

Michael Nsiah, business support officer for the partnership, said: "There are a number of organisations that will be able to provide these services and help make a big difference to many families. I hope that many more parents will have access to an affordable nursery place for their children and these new places will provide a very important service, particularly in these disadvantaged areas which have a shortage of childcare facilities."

Money for the new nurseries will come from the government's New Opportunities Fund, which will contribute £410,500 for capital funding, and the Department for Education and Skills, which provide £957,000 to subsidise running costs and staffing for the first three years.

Anyone interested in applying for a grant should write to Michael Nsiah at the Early Years and Childcare Section of the Education Department at the Civic Centre in Lampton Road for an application pack.