The centres, which will be built over the next three years, will provide a range of services to fit their community, including child care and early education if there is sufficient demand.

Key elements of the centres include providing support for parents who wish to enter training or who require help gaining employment, and providing access to community health services, including antenatal and child health services.

Members of Leeds City Council's executive board have also approved proposed locations for the centres, which include: Roundhay, Boston Spa and villages south, Wetherby and villages west, Cross Gates and Manston, Colton and Halton, Garforth, east Leeds villages, Guiseley, and Calverley and Farsley.

Coun Stewart Golton, the authority's executive board member responsible for children's services, said: "These children's centres are about so much more than just child care – they are pivotal resources for the whole family.

"The centres which have already opened are proving to be very successful and popular with local parents and our aim is to open up this valuable resource to all neighbourhoods over the next three years."

By August this year Leeds will have opened 49 children's centres since 2003. Between them, they provide almost 3,000 early- education and child care places, and have a reach of some 30,000 families.