FAMILIES in Worcestershire are set to benefit from a £7.8m cash injection to set up more Sure Start children's centres across the county.

The Government has announced that Worcestershire will receive the money over the next two years as it seeks to establish a centre in every community by 2010.

"This is fantastic news for us," said Ian Craigan, Sure Start manager for Worcester.

"Worcestershire got a small amount of money about a year ago to develop children's centres. At that time the level of money was linked to the creation of child care places.

"But as Worcestershire was already successful in developing places we only got a little money because we were ahead of the game.

"However, now the Government is hoping to have a children's centre in every community by 2010 so more money is now being ploughed into the county."

There are currently four children's centres across Worcestershire:

n Fairfield Community Centre, Brickfields, Worcester.

n Madresfield Early Years Centre, near Malvern.

n WANDS at Westlands First School, Droitwich.

n Franche First School, Kidderminster.

However, there is no indication yet where the first new centres will be built.

"The driving group is the Children's Centre Strategy Group, which is putting together the arguments and criteria for how and where new centres should be developed across the county," added Mr Craigan.

"As far as I know, there is no definitive list as yet and where this new money will be spent has not been decided."

The county will receive £4,372,670 for capital spend and £3,523,769 for revenue, making a total of £7,896,439 by 2008.

The idea of children's centres was first mooted in June 2003, when the aim was to provide a "sure start" for every child by bringing together all the services that are essential to a family.

Each one provides childcare, health services and family support.