MUMS are being given a helping hand with child care facilities after the launch of a Sure Start initiative.

Parents living in the Sure Start areas with children under the age of four have been taking full advantage of crches and baby and toddler groups since the initiative was launched.

The facilities were officially launched after Worcester City Council was given a £100,000 cash advance from the Government's £5m Sure Start fund.

Mums living in Dines Green will now be able to take advantage of a new crche taking place at the Green Centre from 12.15pm to 2.45pm every Thursday.

The Green Centre crche, which is run by Playtec, a crche group from Worcester College of Technology, was launched on Thursday, May 9.

Mother of two Tracey Hawkins, who works evenings at Reality, said the Dines Green crche was much needed.

She brought her children, Madison, aged one and Taylor, aged three, to the crche on its opening day.

Crches are also being held at Tolladine Community Centre on Mondays between 8.45am to noon and on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.30am to noon

Sian Gray, centre manager at Warndon Community Centre said a lot of mothers had come to pick up registration forms.