Childcare prices 'highest in the south east'

Parents living in the south east of England can expect to hand over the most cash for childcare, a report has found.

According to the Family and Childcare Trust and Netmums:

• The weekly cost in the south east is £140.88 on average.
• Families in the North West have the lowest average weekly holiday childcare costs at £103.38.
• In Wales holiday childcare costs £109.66 on average, and in Scotland it is £104.28.
• A survey of parents conducted by parenting website Netmums and the Trust found that around 17% said that they had to take days off work sick last year to cover childcare.
• This represents almost a million working days lost, the Trust said, which it claims costs the economy almost £100 million each year.