£158 PER WEEK FOR NURSERY

Costs soar as capacity plummets

-  LIZZY BUCHAN

PARENTS are being forced to fork out £158 a week for a nursery place, while only a third of councils have enough childcare to meet demand, a major survey reveals today.

Charity Coram found the cost of 25 hours a week for a child under two has risen by an inflationbusting 7% since last year.

Parents in inner London paid the most, £218 a week, compared to £129 in the East Midlands.