Unhappy holidays as parents are hit by childcare lottery

The average cost of holiday childcare now stands at 558 per child – an average of 93 per week, according to a study by the Daycare Trust, and three per cent more than last year.

The survey found that parents face paying different amounts for depending on where they live.

The research also found there is too little holiday care to meet demand.

Daycare Trust chief executive Alison Garnham said: "We are hugely concerned by the gaping hole in the provision of holiday childcare across the country.

"The situation continues to get worse with the impact of local authority spending cuts which we see are already attacking holiday childcare provision."

The trust is calling for more holiday childcare to be available.