A CHILDREN'S centre which will open later this year will also look to tackle the financial woes of its families.

The Harefield Children's Centre will finally have a home to call its own from September when it opens at its new site next to Harefield Infant School, in High Street, Harefield.

The centre will also have an adviser from the Citizen's Advice Bureau and it is hoping to set up a credit union to encourage children from the village to start saving from an early age.The Government-funded nursery even hopes to establish itself as a miniature job centre to deal with the increasing rates of unemployment.

Manager Sue Atherton said: "These are all aspects that affect family life and we want to support young parents. Debt is an issue in the current climate.

"We will have an adviser who can help people look for jobs, which will be so important.

"We want to look to families who feel its not for them. We want to be for everybody."

The children's centre has already had as many as 250 inquiries from interested families, which are estimated to make up more than half of the children aged under five in Harefield.

Mrs Atherton added: "It's an open door policy at the moment. There are no finite number of places and we will be open all year round."

The children's centre is already operating around the village, holding day nurseries at the Park Lane Village Centre, St Mary's Church Hall, and Harefield Baptist Church and other places.

Its toy library is currently having to be transported from place to place in a van, so when the centre is able to move into its permanent home it will be a major boost.

The centre will also run post-natal classes and evening parenting classes for adults at the nearby Harefield Academy in Northwood Way.

Mrs Atherton said: "Our aim is to drag kids away from the television and the computer.We want to cut down obesity rates in reception age children.

"Our early year practitioners have real expertise, and we run a host of activities ranging from arts and crafts to messy play. We also offer free fruit and juice at all our sessions."

Mrs Atherton also thanked the community for its continued support. She said: "I have always worked in cities so being here is different, but I've found it excellent.

"The community is extremely supportive. You do not have that in other parts of the world or even the borough."