HUNDREDS of new nursery places will be created across Dorset to cope with the increase in free childcare from September.

Working parents will be entitled to 30 free hours for three and four-year-olds from the start of the next academic year and funding has just been announced for five projects.

In Poole a total of £627,398 has been allocated for extensions to Cuddles Day Nurseries in Canford Heath and in Rossmore.

In the Dorset County Council area nearly £400,000 has been awarded for the conversion of Mudeford Wood play group in Christchurch and for new-build nurseries at Motcombe Primary School in north Dorset and Mosterton pre-school in west Dorset.

A Dorset County Council spokesperson said: "This will create a minimum of 71 new 30 hours childcare places in addition to some additional 15 hours and two-year-old childcare capacity.

"It is very early to be sure about the capacity for parents to take up their 30 hours entitlement but we are already working with providers and engaging with parents in preparation for the changes in September."

The grants are among around 200 made across England.

The 30 free hours will be available to families where both parents work and neither earns more than £100,000.

Cuddles Day Nursery in Canford Heath has been awarded £381,168 for the creation of 104 new places from September. The Rossmore branch has been given £246,230 to create 52 new places.

The money will be used alongside extra funds from the nursery provider to support working families in the two communities.

Councillor Mike White, Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Capital Projects at Poole council said: "This is great news for working families in Poole, providing them with an increase in good quality childcare available for local children."

Linda Duly, the proprietor of Cuddles said: "We are delighted that the bids have been successful and are already looking forward to welcoming more children to the two nurseries later this year."

The Department for Education has indicated that just over 1,000 Poole children will be eligible for the so-called Extended Entitlement from September.

Plans for more free hours have been criticised by experts who fear there will not be enough spaces if all eligible families take up the full 30 hours.

It is widely-recognised that it will not be possible for all children who currently attend nursery for 15 hours to increase their time to 30 hours in the same nursery.

"It may be that the entitlement could be split between two different nurseries or perhaps a nursery and a childminder" said a Poole council spokesman.