MORE than £2,500 has been awarded to three early years groups by the county council's local committee for Eden.

Councillors approved grants to Armathwaite Nursery Group, Brough Pre-school and Kiddliwinks Nursery in Penrith.

Armathwaite Nursery Group provides nursery education for children aged two-and-a-half to five years old. It also runs a toddler group for younger children. A grant of £600 will be used to establish a creativity project' providing a variety of art, design and technology activities using batik, printing, modelling, sewing, weaving and fabric work.

Brough Pre-school received a £1,000 grant which will be used to take 15 children for swimming lessons by qualified teachers, an annual outing to a physical adventure centre, and resources to help promote healthy eating and exercise.

Kiddliwinks Nursery provides day care and education for children aged between three months and five years old during term time, and holiday club care for children up to eight years old during all school holidays. It also provides wrap around care for children from local schools - whereby children attending nursery-funded education at other places in the area can use the facilities at Kiddliwinks as well. Its grant of £1,000 will go towards the cost of buying all weather safety flooring for the outside play area, and a covered area.

Coun Gary Strong, chairman of Eden Area Local Committee, said: "Eden Local Committee is committed to providing excellent nursery provision throughout the area. We like parents to have a choice of facilities offering a wide range of activities for their children."