PARENTS whose children take part in a popular Chorley playscheme could be forced to pick up the tab for a £10 per head police check on volunteer group leaders.

Under new government guidelines, due to enforced next summer, voluntary organisations could be required to foot the bill to cover the costs of background checks on volunteer helpers.

The new initiative, introduced under the Children's Act 1985, could put an end to many activity groups in the town who rely on voluntary members to get off the ground.

Organiser of the annual Chorley Children's Playscheme, Jim Green, fears the charges for police checks will result in increased costs for parents.

Currently, Jim operates three summer playschemes in this area including one at St Michael's High School, in Astley Road, Chorley, which is in full swing this week.

Each day, more than 700 children have attended the fun event and taken part in lots of exciting activities including a range of sports and games as well as drama and music workshops.

The youngsters have also enjoyed trips to the theatre and various excursions including Martin Mere Wildlife Sanctuary, in Burscough, near Chorley, and Botany Bay leisure complex, on the outskirts of the town. At the moment, parents are required to pay a £25 registration fee for their children to join the playscheme -- part of the £35 it costs the playscheme to provide their service for youngsters, according to Mr Green.

He added: "Although I agree that these police checks for voluntary leaders are a very good idea I am concerned about the cost.

"During the playscheme we have around 150 volunteers so we would be facing a bill of £1,500 in order to get the checks done.

"I would be loathed to compromise the activities we do for the children who attend but, if we had to raise the money ourselves, it could come to that.

"Alternatively, we would have to up the registration charge which would increase costs on parents."

Labour MP for Chorley, Lindsay Hoyle, said: "Voluntary organisations have told me that the cost of verification for volunteers is something they are struggling with.

"But, I'm happy to take up this cause in Parliament to try and resolve the problem."