Labour'S minister for children and young people, Margaret Hodge, pledged an extra £4.5m for Southampton to build an additional eight children's centres when she visited the city yesterday.

Mrs Hodge made the announcement at the Children's Centre based at Woodlands Community School in Harefield.

She was joined by Labour's General Election candidates for Southampton Itchen and Southampton Test, John Denham and Alan Whitehead.

The new centres would be based on the city's existing Sure Start centres and would provide childcare services, as well as health visitors and educational facilities for mothers and fathers under one roof.

During an hour-long visit to the centre, Mrs Hodge promised that the centres would be built between 2008 and 2010 if Labour wins the May 5 election.

She said: "We have given Southampton nearly £1.9m in capital and nearly £2.4m in revenue - together that is nearly £4.5m to develop eight more children's centres.

"They will provide the services at this facility and will also provide care, education and health services and classes to help people back into jobs.

"But that will not last if there is a £35 billion cut in spending by the Conservatives."

Other candidates standing in Southampton Itchen are Liberal Democrat David Goodall, Conservative Flick Drummond and Kim Rose, of the UK Independence Party.

Other candidates standing in Southampton Test are Liberal Democrat Steve Sollitt, Conservative Stephen MacLoughlin, Peter Day of the UK Independence Party, and John Spottiswoode, Green.

For more local news from the 2005 General Election campaign see pages 8 & 9 of today's Daily Echo.