The Government-funded SureStart Centres at Parkinson Lane and Warley Road, both Halifax, will provide activity sessions for youngsters while their parents access a variety of courses in the same building.

First aid, language, numeracy and cooking classes will all be available with children kept entertained in separate rooms.

The openings are the latest developments of a scheme which has seen a total of 17 separate centres introduced in Calderdale over the last few years.

The Parkinson Lane centre is based in a fully refurbished nursery in the grounds of Parkinson Lane Community Primary School while the under-building of Warley Road Primary School houses the second centre.

Both have a selection of multi-purpose rooms, kitchen facilities, play areas, an entrance halls and small outdoor area.

Nasreen King, who will manage both centres, said: "This is an exciting development for the local communities.

"These centres are not nurseries or creches, they are drop-in centres where parents can access a range of courses that will improve their job prospects or perhaps help them with aspects of parenting – all while their children are looked after by fully trained staff."

The SureStart scheme has been a flagship Labour policy since 1997 and has been hailed a success in many areas of the UK where it has been developed.