FAMILIES in Monmouthshire will benefit from a £1.8m grant earmarked for spending during the 2017/18 financial year.

A total of £650,000 has been allocated to the county’s Families First programme - an initiative which supports families and aims to improve outcomes.

The programme focuses on prevention and early intervention support services to tackle child poverty. The amount includes £51,000 to help families affected by disability.

Meanwhile, the council’s Flying Start scheme which operates in selected areas in Monmouth, Abergavenny, Chepstow and Caldicot will receive £1.17m.

Flying Start aims to give children the best start in life from the prenatal period to three years old.

The money will help the programme to deliver high quality part-time childcare for eligible two year olds alongside evidence-based health, parenting and early language support.