RAMSBOTTOM'S new children's centre will have no actual centre'.

There will be no physical building, Bury Council has decided, but the services available will be the same as those available in other areas of the borough.

Eight new children's centres are planned across Bury as part of the second phase of the Government's Sure Start project. All but Ramsbottom's will have physical centres attached to existing primary school buildings.

The council has been unable to find a suitable location in Ramsbottom because of the size of the area that the centre has to cover.

Instead, services will be delivered at venues throughout the town, including nurseries, churches and the health centre.

Co-ordinator Paula Cockcroft will oversee the delivery of services from a base at Ramsbottom Library, in Carr Street.

She said: "We've learned from the first phase of children's centres that it is not always appropriate to ask everyone to come to one centre. Some mums don't access the services because they cannot get there.

"The Ramsbottom centre has to cover a wide area geographically so it makes more sense to take the services to the communities. I will be based at the library in the town centre making sure it all comes together so there will be a base where people can contact me and get information about where they access the various services."

Sure Start children's centres deliver information on antenatal and postnatal health, guidance on child development, and advice on health and nutrition. They also act as bases for childminder services and links to job centres and adult tuition in English, maths and basic computer skills.

Paula expects to up and running at Ramsbottom library shortly after the end of the school Easter holidays.

Tottington will be included in the third phase of the government's Sure Start programme.