EXCERPTS

Primary schools in Britain will be open between 8am and 6pm under Labour's new £3 billion-a-year childcare plan, according to reports today.

The revolutionary proposal would give working parents of children aged three to 11 a guaranteed 10 hours a day childcare at their local primary school, the Daily Mirror and Daily Express reported.

Low-income parents would get heavily subsidised places while middle-income and richer families would have to pay top-up fees of up to £80 a week for the service.

Ministers are reportedly putting the finishing touches to the policy which, it is hoped, would prove popular with voters and help secure a third term in office for Labour next year.

Chancellor Gordon Brown was expected to set aside money for the programme which would be announced in Labour's manifesto, the newspapers said.

Working parents already face spiralling childcare costs with some reportedly paying more than £17,000 a year for nursery care.

A Department for Education and Skills spokeswoman told PA News: "We have been working towards building the expansion of childcare places and have met our target early in April this year. Every three and four-year-old whose parents want one can have free early education."

- reprinted from PA News