A £76,000 cash injection will help youngsters in Shipley's most deprived areas get a better start in life.

Shipley Sure Start bosses are celebrating handouts from the Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme and the European Social Fund.

Grants of £42,000 from the Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme and £34,000 from the European Social Fund will be used to train people as childcare workers with the project.

The scheme, run by the Bradford North Primary Care Trust, focuses on families with children aged under four in Bolton Woods, Frizinghall, Windhill, West Royd, Wrose, Hirst Wood, and part of Baildon's Coach Road area.

Programme manager Nigel Taylor said the money would be used to train 22 creche and childcare workers over the next two years.

Mr Taylor said: "Many playgroups are run by unqualified workers. The money will be used to train existing child care workers to GNVQ levels two and three, which is a new requirement from Ofsted.

"We are also hoping to recruit new workers who will be trained to a similar level."

Mr Taylor, who works from Shipley Sure Start's Well Croft headquarters, said community play groups in Shipley, Bolton Woods, Frizinghall and Wrose would be asked to take part.

"We recognise there is a child care shortage throughout the area covered by us and hopefully this money will help rectify that problem," he said.

"These training places will increase parents' chances of employment because they will be able to leave their children with trusted and qualified workers. "

Councillor Tony Miller (Lab, Shipley East) said the cash would improve child care standards in the district.

"It's desperately needed because the targets set by central Government for child care levels have been raised," he said. "These trained child care workers could then pass on their skills and raise the standards of other volunteers."