Around 900 two-year-olds across the county could miss out on a state-funded nursery place from September.

Essex County Council have forewarned a shortfall of 145 funded nursery places in Braintree district alone from September, when the government will make the scheme more accessible.

Across Halstead, this could equate to nine two-year-olds going without a free place.

Director of quality improvement at the Pre-school Learning Alliance Michael Freeston said children in rural areas were most likely to miss out on a free place.

For the full story, see this week's Halstead Gazette.