AM Elin Jones has called for 2016 to be a year when Welsh politicians show a renewed focus on tacking the increasing costs of childcare.

Figures compiled by the party show that the average cost of 25 hours of childcare a week in Wales is £103.44, a figure which represents a huge burden on working parents.

Ceredigion is close to the average cost, at £100 a week, while figures for other areas vary enormously from £79 in the county of Conwy to some authorities where the equivalent cost is over £120.

Currently, childcare is provided through a mixture of public and private providers and factors such as rurality and disadvantage can affect the cost.

The Welsh Government provides all three-year-olds with 10 hours a week of early education or childcare but some local authorities offer more.

The Welsh Government also offers 12.5 hours of free childcare a week for two to three-year-olds in some disadvantaged areas through Flying Start.

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