DISADVANTAGED parents on a housing estate in Droitwich are to receive a much-needed boost with the opening of a new support and advice centre next week.

The Westlands and Neighbourhood Nursery Development (WANDS) centre is being run in conjunction with the Government's Sure Start project which aims to help improve the lives of parents and their young children.

Its main attraction will be a 48-place nursery, which will enable mothers and fathers to go to work without paying excessive childcare costs.

Parents will also be able to find help in the form of various education courses, parenting workshops, and drop-in clinics by organisations such as Citizens Advice and Relate.

The centre will be based next to the Westlands First School in Farmers Way and has been awarded £850,000 funding over the next three years.

"This is a very welcome initiative for Westlands and one which has been desperately needed for a while now," said Sure Start programme manager Karen Chidlow.

"The idea was hatched late last year and it has been based entirely on what the residents themselves have told us they want.

"The aim is to help parents and children to get on in life by offering support in a variety of ways. Hopefully by doing this, the rejuvenation of Westlands can really get under way."

Television presenter Anne Diamond is due to open the new facility next Friday, May 16 at 3.15pm.

The mother of four and star of Celebrity Big Brother was chosen as the VIP guest because of her work with different children's charities.