HAMPSHIRE County Council has been given a £10 million cash boost to fund free nursery education places for three year olds.

The £10,691,604 grant will pay for 8,778 part-time early education places as part of an increase in government spending.

Announcing the rise, early years and schools minister Catherine Ashton said: "There is now a free nursery place for every four year old in the country and I am determined to meet our target of a free place for every three year old whose parents want one by September 2004."