BOLTON parents are to get their own children's information service where they can get specialist advice on local services. The council are to set up the information shop in the Central Library where parents can find out what is available in the borough. And an adviser is to be taken on to help them find their way through the childcare maze.

Education chiefs will set up the centre by April 2000 as part of Bolton's Early Years Development Plan.

It will pull together all the information on childcare and education in Bolton which is currently held by several council departments and very fragmented.

Employers who want to help workers with provision and those already employed or interested in working in the industry will also be able to use the centre to find out about regulations and training.

Eventually all the information will be computerised and parents will be able to access it at their local branch library.

The Government has given Bolton the money to set up the information centre which will cost £75,397 including the wages of two computer workers, a part-time librarian and a part-time adviser.

Education Director Margaret Blenkinsop said: "This is good news for parents. The grant will allow us to create a comprehensive database to give parents quality information about childcare across the borough."

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